PERIODIC TABLE / STATIONS LAB Name STATION 1 / REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENTS IN GROUPS 1 AND 2 Group 1 / What is the common name of this group? NOTE: Although Hydrogen is shown at the very top of this group, it IS NOT a metal like the others. Hydrogen is usually described to be in a group of its own. It has the same electron configuration of the group 1 elements thus it behaves like one and is commonly placed in that column, but it is obviously NOT a metal at all. 1. On your clean periodic table, very lightly color this group GREEN using the colored pencil at the station. 2. HANDS-ON: At your station observe the small block of sodium metal located in the flask and submersed in mineral oil. Follow your teachers instructions about what to do with the sodium. One day soon your teacher will combine it with water to demonstrate its violent reactivity. Group 2 / What is the common name of this group? 1. On your clean periodic table, very lightly color this group BROWN using the colored pencil at the station. 4. HANDS-ON: Ask your teacher to ignite a sample of the flammable metal magnesium. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group needs to take the quiz labeled STATION 1
STATION 2 / TRANSITION ELEMENTS Transition Elements Part I / Groups 3-7 / NO Common Name 1. On your periodic table, very lightly color groups 3-12 YELLOW using the colored pencil. 2. Generally speaking, the transition metals bridge the gap between the representative elements on either side of the periodic table. Moving along the length of a PERIOD to the other end, the different elements show a change in their properties and behavior quite a bit except along the transition area where differences are very small. 3. The most commonly known transition elements in groups 3-6 are spot lighted below. Chromium: Takes on a very high polish and is used commonly to plate (cover) iron or steel to give it a pleasing look and protect it from corrosion (rust). Chromium compounds also have varying colors which are sometimes used to give paint its bright colors. Tungsten: Having one of the highest melting points, it is used to make light bulb filaments. The bright light given off from light bulb filaments is due to the very high operating temperature of the tungsten filament. 4. HANDS-ON: Observe the sample of chrome plated leg from one of the science stools. There is only a very thin layer of chromium that gives this shiny look. Using the file at the station, try to scratch off some of the chromium. Can you do it easily or is the chromium to hard? HANDS-ON: At your lab station, find the light bulb on the stand with the dimmer control. WARNING BULB MAY BE HOT DO NOT TOUCH GLASS! Carefully operate the dimmer to slowly bring the bulb brightness up. Observe the extreme brightness and yet the tungsten does not melt and fall away! 5. COMPUTER ACTIVIY: Your group needs to take the quiz labeled STATION 2
STATION 3 / TRANSITION ELEMENTS (continued) Transition Elements Part II / Groups 8-10 / NO Common Name 1. As you make your way across the transition metals into groups 8-10, many other more likely familiar elements you will see. Examples: Iron: A silvery gray metal that has impacted life on our planet greatly. From transportation and infrastructure to buildings and biology, iron is just about everywhere. Our blood requires it to carry oxygen like cars need it to carry us! Although steel is not an element, it contains a very high amount of iron and a small amount of carbon. The Iron Triad: Three elements; Iron, Cobalt and Nickel have properties so similar that they are mentioned together this way. In their pure form, they are all magnetic whereas most other metals are not. FILL IN THE NAME IRON TRIAD IN THE SPACE PROVIDED ON YOUR PERIODIC TABLE Nickel: You might think based on what was said earlier that a 5 cent Nickel coin would be magnetic, but coin nickels only have some nickel in them. They are actually made of a copper/nickel alloy; this alloy does not exhibit magnetic properties like pure nickel. Other than coin making, nickel is important for making rechargeable batteries called Nickel-Cadmium batteries also called NiCads. 2. HANDS-ON: Observe the samples of iron and nickel. Try the magnet to each of these to see if they are magnetic. Which one was attracted to the magnet? HANDS-ON: Observe a magnetic field using the iron filings. A. Keep the white card with the magnetic inside the metal tray. B. Sprinkle the iron filings evenly onto the white board. Tap the sides of the pan or white board to get the filings to arrange themselves along the magnetic field lines. Do you see curved or straight lines leading between North and South? C. IN A SIMPLE DRAWING SHOW WHAT THE FIELD LINES LOOK LIKE IN THE SPACE BELOW N S D. CLEAN UP: CAREFULLY LIFT THE WHITE BOARD OUT OF THE PAN. POUR THE FILINGS INTO THE PAN FIRST AND SWEEP ANY REMAINING OFF THE BOARD USING YOU HAND. POUR THE FILINGS FROM THE PAN BACK INTO THE PIE TIN. 3. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group needs to take the quiz labeled STATION 3
STATION 4 / TRANSITION ELEMENTS (continued) Transition Elements Part III / Groups 10-12 / NO Common Name 1. As you continue your way into groups 10-12, other familiar elements you will see. Examples: Copper: This redish colored metal is used to make U.S. penny coins. It is also used widely as water supply piping in homes and industry. Zinc: A very important element for human health. It is also used as a coating for iron to keep it from corroding. When this is done, the iron is said to be GALVANIZED (iron plated with zinc). Zinc is also very reactive and dangerous when it is ground into a fine powder. One day, your teacher will demonstrate this effect. Mercury: Once widely used in thermometers, mercury is now very uncommonly used as accidental breakage of thermometers would expose the user to the mercury. Mercury is known to be a toxic substance and has since been replaced in thermometers with other substances. Since mercury is a liquid at room temperature, it can be used in interesting ways. Like other metals it is a good conductor. Mercury switches are commonly used in basic room thermostats which control the operation of your home heater or air conditioner. 2. HANDS-ON: Observe the samples of copper and zinc. Try the magnet to each of these to see if they are magnetic. Which one was attracted to the magnet? HANDS-ON: Notice the room thermostat mounted to the board. Carefully look through the transparent cover. You should notice a clear glass sealed tube at the back of the device having liquid mercury in it this is a mercury switch. Let s see how it works: A. Read the present room temperature on the left-hand dial. What is the room temperature? B. Notice the temperature adjustment lever on the right-hand side it s probably set all the way up right now. C. Let s turn on the AIR CONDITIONING: Slide the lever down slowly as you watch the mercury switch. As the setting gets close to room temperature and then below it, you should see the mercury inside the tube slide over from the left side to the right and this will trigger the air conditioner to turn on (the light bulb!). EXPLANATION: Within the tube there are metal contacts when the mercury (which is a good conductor as it is a metal) reaches the contacts on the right side of the tube, it completes the control circuit like flipping a switch! 3. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group should take the quiz labeled STATION 4
STATION 5 / REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENTS IN GROUP 13 Group 13 / What is the common name of this group? 1. HANDS-ON: Observe the sample of aluminum. Try the magnet to it to see if it is magnetic. Is aluminum magnetic? 2. HANDS-ON: Find the plastic bag containing the silvery metal. The metal inside the bag is Gallium. What did you learn about Gallium and its properties? Write it below: A TEST: A. Of the students in your group, choose the one which has the warmest hands presently. DO NOT REMOVE THE GALLIUM FROM THE BAG! DO NOT REMOVE THE GALLIUM FROM THE BAG! B. Have the student with the warm hands hold the bag containing the Gallium in their closed palm for a couple of minutes. While the warm-handed student holds the Gallium, read the following: Gallium is the last METAL in period 4. The next element is Germanium which is a metalloid. Do you predict that Gallium is very malleable (bendy) like the other metals from period 4 or more so brittle?. You may have heard of something called an LED. This is an acronym meaning Light Emitting Diode. LED s contain Gallium and is very important in the correct functioning of them Whenever you see an LED, think of GALLIUM! C. What do you notice about the Gallium after a couple of minutes of being held in the hand? D. As you may have written earlier, Gallium has a melting point slightly higher than normal room temperature making it possible to melt in your hand. It actually has a melting point of 85 degrees F. You should notice that some of the Gallium in now a liquid. E. To finish up, please hold the bag of gallium in the ice water for 30 seconds or so to cool it down and then dry off the bag for the next group of students. 3. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group should take the quiz labeled STATION 5
STATION 6 / REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENTS IN GROUP 14 Group 14 / What is the common name of this group? 1. HANDS-ON: Observe the sample of Carbon inside the flask. This is raw carbon which is dark black it is a NON-METAL. There are other forms of carbon in which the atoms are arranged differently giving it different properties. For instance, the silvery dark rod is a form of carbon called GRAPHITE. If you could image for a moment what an enlarged piece of lead from a mechanical pencil would look like, the rod is it a giant piece of pencil lead! The lead in pencils of any kind is actually made of GRAPHITE. Using the graphite rod, write your name on the large white construction paper (NO DOODLING!) Unfortunately there is no sample of the third form of carbon for you to observe DIAMOND. 2. HANDS-ON: Observe the sample of SILICON (the thin bluish grey material) be careful as it is brittle and was cracked from a larger piece and has a sharp edge now. Notice the back is somewhat silvery like a metal, but it is not malleable like one it is brittle. This is because it is a METALLOID sometimes called a SEMI- METAL or SEMICONDUCTOR. Observe the shiny side closely with the magnifying glass at the station. Now place it under the microscope and get a close up view of the same side. Describe what you observe below. HANDS-ON: Now look at the computer memory chip the little brown rectangle with the little silver legs. DON T BEND THE LEGS! DON T BEND THE LEGS! This is a special memory chip that has a window so we can see the insides. This memory device can be erased, but only when a strong ultraviolet light is shined onto the chip through the window for an hour or so. Have a look through the window on the chip using the microscope. After your observation, can you explain how electrical signals make it to the SILICON chip on the inside? HANDS-ON: Notice the sample of Lead (actual Lead not used in pencils) in the bag. LEAVE THE LEAD IN THE BAG! LEAVE THE LEAD IN THE BAG! Through the bag, observe how malleable and soft the lead is. 3. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group should take the quiz labeled STATION 6
STATION 7 / REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENTS IN GROUP 15 and 16 Group 15 / What is the common name of this group? Group 16 / What is the common name of this group? 1. On your periodic table, very lightly color the elements B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te and Po PURPLE using the colored pencil at the station - these are the METALLOIDS! 2. HANDS-ON: Observe the road flare and the stick matches. Each of these contains the element phosphorus from group 15 of the periodic table which provides the high heat burning and bright flame. 3. HANDS-ON: Observe the yellow Sulfur in the flask. You may open the stopper and using a WAFTING action, bring a bit of its smell over to your nose it has a distinct odor! 4. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group should take the quiz labeled STATION 7
STATION 8 / REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENTS IN GROUP 17 and 18 Group 17 / What is the common name of this group? Group 18 / What is the common name of this group? 1. On your periodic table, very lightly color group 17 RED using the colored pencil at the station. 2. On your periodic table, very lightly color group 18 BLUE using the colored pencil at the station. 3. HAND-ON: Observe the toothpaste box packaging. Read to find the active ingredient of toothpaste. What is the active ingredient?. 4. HANDS-ON: Observe the Clorox bleach in the flask. Using a WAFTING action, bring a bit of its smell over to your nose it has a distinct odor. Which element from group 17 gives it this odor? 5. HANDS-ON: Observe the bottle of antiseptic cleaner. What is the active ingredient in this substance?. What do all three products have in common when it comes to their uses? 6. HANDS-ON: The large tank of gas contains Argon. The glass tube attached to the black power supply also has Argon in it. You may have heard of NEON lights before, but the element Neon is not the only element involved in making what most people call NEON lights. For instance, the tube is actually an ARGON light. To make the Argon gas glow, a lot of electrical voltage is needed about 5,000 volts is what the black power unit will put out. Using the switch on the extension cord, energize the Argon light so you can see its color. Each of the noble gases produces its own unique color. What color is Argon producing? 7. COMPUTER ACTIVITY: Your group should take the quiz labeled STATION 8