Critical Thinking
Classifying If you know that an element is a solid at room temperature, do you have enough data to classify the element as a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal? If you know that the element is a gas at room temperature, do you have enough data? Explain your answers.
Applying Concepts An element on the periodic table has two naturally occurring isotopes. One isotope has an atomic mass of about 10 amu.
The other isotope has an atomic mass of about 11 amu. What is the name of this element?
Predicting How many valence electrons would an element with atomic number 113 have?
Applying Concepts Why are samples of the alkali metal cesium usually stored in argon gas?
Applying Concepts Why are halogens found in nature only in compounds?
Applying Concepts Which element on the periodic table has chemical properties that are most similar to those of carbon?
Designing Experiments If you were trying to make a compound of the noble gas xenon, would you use nitrogen or fluorine? Explain your choice.
Use the table to answer Questions 31−33.
Element |
Melting Point |
Boiling Point |
Valence Electrons |
|---|---|---|---|
X |
97.80°C |
883°C |
1 |
Y |
−259.34°C |
−252.87°C |
1 |
Z |
−101.5°C |
−34.04°C |
7 |
Analyzing Data In general, where would you find Elements X, Y, and Z on the periodic table?
Classifying Describe the state of each element at room temperature based on its melting and boiling points.
Drawing Conclusions Use your answers to Questions 31 and 32 to identify element Y. Explain your reasoning.
Concepts in Action
Predicting What might happen to a heated beaker made from glass that does not contain boron if the beaker were placed in a pan of ice water?
Inferring Based on the content of most fertilizers, name two elements other than carbon that are found in compounds in plants.
Making Generalizations Explain how the amount of a trace element an organism is exposed to affects the element's ability to help or harm an organism. Use the example of selenium. (Hint: Refer to the discussion on page 149.)
Problem Solving Sometimes old books fall apart when they are stored in air. Use what you know about the reactivity of elements to propose a way that old books could be kept from falling apart.
Using Analogies Explain how a calendar is similar to a periodic table and how it is different.
Relating Cause and Effect When corn plants have yellow leaves, it is a sign that the plants lack an essential element. Which element must be added to the soil to produce leaves with a healthy green color?
Writing in Science You write for a newsletter that has a feature called Element of the Month. It is your turn to write the feature. Pick an element that you think is worthy of attention. Write a brief essay and suggest a photo to be used with your feature.
Performance-Based Assessment
Design Your Own Periodic Table Make a version of the periodic table that presents the information provided in Figure 7 in a different, but useful, way.
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