INTRODUCTION

This activity will help you understand the organization of the periodic table. You will use logic to arrange a set of pictures into an assigned order, determine the appearance of a missing person, and then draw that person so that his picture fits in with the order of the rest of the pictures.

OBJECTIVES

Describe an organization of family relationships.

Explain the significance of the vertical columns, or families.

Identify a missing “cousin” based on his or her position relative to other family members.

Relate or apply what you learned in this activity to the periodic table.

MATERIALS

Worksheet of “cousins”

Glue

Scissors

Blank sheet of paper

DIRECTIONS

  1. Read the letter that came with the pictures and follow the directions in the letter.

  1. Cut out the cousins and place them in front of you.
  2. Arrange the pictures in columns and rows according to the cousins’ physical features and clothing according to the letter. One picture is missing – Cousin Al.
  3. When you are sure of the correct arrangement of the family, glue the pictures to a piece of paper. (HINT: you will be applying what you learn to the periodic table. If you need some help, study the periodic table.)
  4. Determine Cousin Al’s proper position, and then predict what he looks like. Draw him in the appropriate spot.

CONCLUSIONS:

  1. What is the significance of the size of the body? ______
    ______
  2. What is the significance of the number of arms on each cousin? ______
    ______
  3. What is the significance of the number of fingers on each of the hands? ______
    ______
  4. Compare the number of hairs on the heads of the cousins to valence electrons. How does this observation relate to Mendeleev’s work? ______
    ______
  5. Why are some cousins smiling while others are frowning? ______
    ______
  6. Describe everything you know about Cousin Al. What is his atomic number? How many electrons does he have? What element has the symbol Al? ______
    ______
  7. Write the name of the element represented by each “cousin” beneath his or her picture. Base your answers on the periodic table and the information provided by the number of fingers, arms, hair, and presence or absence of a smile or frown.
  8. Draw Cousin Cal (calcium) in the appropriate spot on your collage. Look at a periodic table to see how many electrons a calcium atom has in each of its energy levels. Include the correct number of arms, hands, fingers, as well as hair on his head. Also, be sure to dress him appropriately.
  9. The following is a drawing of a sodium atom using the Bohr model to describe the position of the electrons in the energy levels. Draw a chlorine atom next to it. For help, use the information in the periodic table.