Name:_______________________________
Date:_____________________
Pd:_________
Properties of Elements
Pre-Lab: (Answer questions on your data sheet.)
1. Using a periodic table, determine and write the chemical symbol for each of the eight elements listed
on your data sheet.
2. Predict whether each element is malleable or brittle and record your prediction in the data table.
Safety Considerations:
 Always wear safety glasses in the chemistry lab.
 Never eat or drink in the chemistry lab.
 Hydrochloric acid solution is corrosive to eyes and skin.
 Cupric chloride solution is toxic if ingested.
 Avoid contact of all chemicals with eyes and all body tissues.
 Wash your hands before leaving the chemistry lab.
Materials:
Aluminum
Carbon
Copper
Magnesium
Silicon
Sulfur
Tin
Zinc
0.1 M CuCl2
1.0 M HCl
Well plates
Well plate templates
Conductivity apparatus
Forceps
Periodic table
2 Waste containers
Procedure:
1. Obtain a well plate and a well plate template. You will go to different stations in the lab to obtain
samples of each element and do physical and chemical tests.
2. Take the well plate to a station and place a small piece of each element in two separate wells. (NOTE:
Do not touch any of the elements with your hands. Use forceps to obtain each sample.)
ASIM Properties of Elements Student Handout, revised 3/2016
Page 1 of 5
Name:_______________________________
Date:_____________________
Pd:_________
Part 1—Physical Properties
3. Observe and record the color of the element in the Data Table. Is the sample silver, gray, colored, etc…?
Be very specific in recording observations.
4. Observe and record the luster of the element in the Data Table. Is the sample shiny, slightly shiny, pearly,
dull, metallic?
5. Record any other physical properties that are observed about each element in the Data Table. Be specific
in your observations. What form is the sample in? Is the sample crystalline, flaky, rough, smooth, flat and
plate-like, rocky, in strips? Is there any odor or are any vapors given off? (Note: Avoid breathing any
vapors directly. Instead of smelling a sample directly, waft the vapors from the sample toward your nose.)
6. Use the nail provided to determine whether your sample is malleable or brittle. Remove the sample from
the well plate and place it on a piece of paper on the table. Press the sample firmly with the nail. If it
bends, it is malleable. If it breaks, it is brittle.
7. Use the conductivity apparatus to test the conductivity of your sample. Turn the conductivity apparatus
on. Touch both electrodes to the element being tested, being sure the electrodes are not touching each
other.
Scale
Red LED
Green LED
Conductivity
0
Off
Off
Low or None
1
Dim
Off
Low
2
Medium
Off
Medium
3
Bright
Dim
High
4
Very Bright
Medium
Very high
Part 2—Chemical Properties
8. a. Obtain a dropper bottle of 1 M HCl. Determine the reactivity of each sample with acid by adding 10
drops of HCl to one well of the sample.
b. Obtain a dropper bottle of 0.1M CuCl2. Determine the reactivity of each sample by adding 10 drops
of CuCl2 to the other well of the sample.
c. Test your tin sample with either HCl or CuCl2 as directed by your teacher.
9. Evidence for a chemical reaction may be the formation of gas bubbles and/or discoloration on the
surface of the element. Observe and record results in the Data Table. Some reactions may be slow to
start—be patient. Allow samples about 5 minutes to react. You may continue testing the remaining
elements while the samples react.
10. Repeat steps 1-9 with the other element samples found at the remaining stations.
11. Clean-up: Empty solutions and unreacted samples in a waste container provided by your teacher.
Clean the well plate with water and a cotton swab, dry, and return to well plate box.
ASIM Properties of Elements Student Handout, revised 3/2016
Page 2 of 5
Name:_______________________________
Date:_____________________
Pd:_________
Pre-Lab:
1. Complete Column 1 (Element Symbol) in the data table below.
2. Complete Column 2 (Malleable or Brittle? Prediction) in the data table below.
Aluminum
Carbon
Copper
Magnesium
Silicon
Sulfur
Tin
Zinc
ASIM Properties of Elements Student Handout, revised 3/2016
Page 3 of 5
CuCl2 Test
HCl Test
Conductivity
Other Characteristics
Luster
Color
Malleable or Brittle?
(demonstration)
Chemical Properties
Malleable or Brittle?
(prediction)
Element Symbol
Sample
Data Table:
Part 1- Physical Properties
Name:_______________________________
Date:_____________________
Pd:_________
Questions:
1. Review the data gathered for the eight elements. Sort the eight elements into three groups, based on
similarities and differences in their physical and chemical properties. Using this information plus
information from your book, classify each group as metal, nonmetal, or metalloid.
2.
Are there any inconsistencies within the groups you made? Do any elements seem to have properties of
both groups? Which? Explain.
3.
Look at the location on the periodic table of each of the eight elements tested in this lab. How do the
properties of these elements compare to their general position on the periodic table? Make
generalizations about the position of the metals, nonmetals, and metalloids on the periodic table.
4.
Predict the physical and chemical properties of the following elements which were not tested in this lab—
selenium, calcium, and cobalt.
ASIM Properties of Elements Student Handout, revised 3/2016
Page 4 of 5
Name:_______________________________
Date:_____________________
Pd:_________
Elaboration Questions:
5. Given the melting point data below, create 3 general statements about the melting points of metals
versus nonmetals. Are there any exceptions? Explain.
Aluminum
660 0C
Carbon
3652 0C
Copper 1063 0C
Magnesium 649 0C
Silicon
1410 0C
Sulfur
113 0C
Tin
232 0C
Zinc
420 0C
Iodine
114 0C
0
0
Germanium 937 C
Bromine
7 C
6.
Develop a process chart for testing elements not included in this experiment to determine whether the
element is a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid.
ASIM Properties of Elements Student Handout, revised 3/2016
Page 5 of 5