UNIT 02: Atomic Theory
BCLN CHEMISTRY 11 - Rev. July, 2015
Project: Element Properties
Potential Credits:
Name: ________________
/15
Goal:
The goal of this project is to help you learn a bit more about the specific properties of certain
elements through a video and research on Wikipedia. You will also explore the differences between
metals and non-metals. Finally you will do an exercise to help you memorize the following trends on
the periodic table: metallic character, atomic radius, ionization energy and eletronegativity.
Procedure and Questions:
Watch the video at the following link: Element Properties Video
1. Fill in the table below. Properties can include but are not limited to: color, shininess, texture,
hardness, state (solid, liquid, gas). If you aren't sure if an element is a metalloid check the Wikipedia
link for metalloid for a complete list of the commonly accepted metalloids.
Element
Symbol
Properties
Sodium
Calcium
Aluminum
Silicon
Carbon
Sulfur
Bromine
Iodine
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Metal
non-metal
or metalloid
UNIT 02: Atomic Theory
BCLN CHEMISTRY 11 - Rev. July, 2015
2. Use Wikipedia to find a common use for each of the elements. There will often be many. Be sure
you are choosing a use for the element and not a compound made from that element. Try to pick one
you can relate to. For example if I look up nitrogen and click on applications two of the options I see
are:
a) In incandescent light bulbs as an inexpensive alternative to argon.
b) In photolithography in deep ultraviolet, nitrogenation is used to avoid the strong oxygen absorption of UV at
these wavelengths.
I would choose the first as I know what a light bulb is but I have never heard of photolithography!
Element
Common use
Sodium
Calcium
Aluminum
Silicon
Carbon
Sulfur
Bromine
Iodine
P.S. Reading about photolithography on Wikipedia it seems to be a process that uses light to create
extremely tiny images on things like computer circuits!
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UNIT 02: Atomic Theory
BCLN CHEMISTRY 11 - Rev. July, 2015
3. There is a zig-zag line on the periodic table which separates the metals from the non-metals.
Which side of this line are the metals on and which side are the non-metals on?
4. Some of the elements directly next to the zig-zag line are called metalloids or semi-metals. Which
element from the video is a metalloid?
5. Check Wikipedia and write down the six commonly accepted metalloids.
6. Fill in the table below. Only provide the group name if the element is in group 1, 2, 17 or 18.
Element
Group
Number
Group Name
Sodium
Calcium
Aluminum
Silicon
Carbon
Sulfur
Bromine
Iodine
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UNIT 02: Atomic Theory
BCLN CHEMISTRY 11 - Rev. July, 2015
7. The metallic character of an element is defined as how readily the element will give up an
electron. This depends directly on how large the element is. Larger elements are more metallic and
smaller elements are less metallic. Elements grow smaller as you move across a row from left to
right of the periodic table and they grow larger as you move down a row in the periodic table.
You can see more information on trends by visiting the Other Trends link in Unit 2 of this course or
you can visit this web page: Periodic Trends
Use this information to move the arrows below on top of the each periodic table to indicate the trend
correctly.
Metallic Character
Atomic Radius
Ionization Energy
Electronegativity
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