Grade 8 Science

Unit: 03 Lesson: 01

©2011, TESCCC 02/15/11 page 1 of 1

Valence Clues

The diagrams below represent various atoms in which only the valence electrons are shown. Use the diagrams to provide the missing information.

Element

Number of Valence

Electrons

Metal, Nonmetal, Metalloid, Noble

Gas Group Number Period Number

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Grade 8 Science

Unit: 03 Lesson: 01

©2011, TESCCC 06/10/11 page 1 of 1

Element Code

Each numbered exercise contains element clues that will help you fill in the blanks and learn the identity of the missing word. Use the symbol for the element in each blank space.

#1 Clues Element’s Name

a. Transition metal 24

b. A common Halogen

c. Family 13 bears this name

#2 Clues Element’s Name

a. An active alkaline earth metal with 56 protons

b. The alkali metal of period 3

c. The metal element that makes up table salt

#3 Clues Element’s Name

a. The first of the alkali metals

b. The first element of family 16

c. A period 2 nonmetal with 5 valence electrons

#4 Clues Element’s Name

a. Element with atomic number 31

b. The last of the alkaline earth metals

c. Mendeleev predicted the existence of this metalloid

#5 Clues Element’s Name

a. The first element in the actinide series

b. period 2 nonmetal with 6 valence electrons

c. The last of the noble gases

#6 Clues Element’s Name

a. A transition metal used in incandescent light bulbs

b. Period 4, Group 15 element

c. The second element in Group 15

d. Period 3 element with 6 valence electrons

____ ____ ____

A baby’s bed

____ ____ ____

A delicious yellow fruit

____ ____ ____

The king of the jungle

____ ____ ____

A place to park the car

____ ____ ____

A squirrel’s treat

____ ____ ____ ____

Watch out for a nest of these!

Grade 8 Science

Unit: 03 Lesson: 01

©2011, TESCCC 06/10/11 page 1 of 1

Identifying Unknown Elements

Use the periodic table to identify the elements described in the statement below. Write both the element name and symbol on the line provided.

___________________1. This element is in the same family as lead and has fewer protons than sodium.

___________________2. This element has an atomic number that is one greater than platinum.

___________________3. This element has the most protons of any element in group 15.

___________________4. This element has more than 50 but less than 75 protons, and it is in Group 17.

___________________5. This Group 2 element has fewer protons than bromine but more protons than sulfur.

___________________6. This element has the lowest atomic number of Group 16 elements.

___________________7. This element has an atomic number that is double the atomic number of silicon.

___________________8. This element has more valence electrons than oxygen, fewer valence electrons than neon, more protons than sodium but fewer protons than argon.

___________________9. This element has an atomic number lower than that of aluminum and one less valence electron than the Group 16 elements.

___________________10. This element is in Group 1 and has a higher atomic number than chlorine but a lower atomic number than bromine.