Group 0 research
Research guidance sheet
You have been given an element in Group 0 of the periodic table to research.
Work through the activities below. If you can’t answer the question then complete the
task in the help bubble. You will feed back your research to the rest of your group.
Draw the atomic
structure of your
element
DO
Complete worksheet A
Suggest how the electronic
structure of the other
elements in Group 0 could
be similar?
THINK
About Group 1 and 7 what was the
same in these groups
How reactive is your
element?
RESEARCH using the
computer
What is its density? How
did scientists discover this?
RESEARCH using the
computer
How is your element used?
Why is it important?
RESEARCH using the
computer
The following websites are useful sources of information:
www.rsc.org/periodic-table
www.chemicalelements.com
www.chem4kids.com/files/elem_intro.html
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Group 0 research
Worksheet A
Sodium atom
Sodium atoms have 11 electrons in
their orbital shells. There are up to
2 in the first shell, 8 in the second
and then can fill up to 18 in the
outer shells. Fill the inner shell
before adding electrons to the next
shell.
Can you copy and complete the
atomic diagram with electrons
for fluorine?
Try doing one of the other elements and get it checked by your
teacher.
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Group 0 research
Leader: Your role is to lead the student discussion in your group and ensure the
areas below are discussed.
1. What are the common features or properties of the elements in the group?
2. Are there any trends and patterns down the group?
3. Using the information you have predict (with detailed ideas) what you
would expect radon to be like.
4. What are the main learning points you would like to feedback to the class?
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Scribe: Your role is to take notes of the student discussion in your group.
1. What are the common features or properties of the elements in the group?
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2. Are there any trends and patterns down the group? If so, describe what they
are.
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3. Using the information you have gathered predict (with detailed ideas) what
you would expect radon to be like.
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4. What are the main learning points you would like to feedback to the class?
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Group 0 research
Teaching notes
Research task
Arrange students into groups of 4 or 5. Give each student an element from
the noble gases to complete the research task with. Each student in a
group should have a different element to research. Each student should
work through the research task at their own speed – some will complete the
entire sheet and others will possibly complete only half. Consolidation will
occur later in the group discussion and so all will be able to contribute to
this discussion as long as some tasks are completed. Allow students 30
minutes to make their research notes.
Small group discussion (15 mins)
Students should go back into their groups and discuss their findings. Each
group should nominate a leader and a scribe. The leader works through the
questions on the sheet eliciting responses from the students to get a good
understanding of the noble gases.
Class discussion (5 mins)
Produce a class summary of the trends in Group 0 and the predicted
properties of radon. Ask students to relate the electronic structure of the
noble gases to their properties and the trends shown by the group. Can
they suggest why they are called the noble gases?
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