Unit II: Chemical Foundations

Classifying Elements: An Introduction to the Periodic Table

Learning Target(s): 6
Problem
What characteristics can be used to divide the chemical elements into groups with similar
properties?
Introduction
The one hundred or so chemical elements can be roughly divided on the basis of their physical
and chemical behavior. For example, many of the elements are brittle, meaning that they will
break, rather than bend, when subjected to pressure or stress. Elements that will bend under
stress are described as malleable.
Another means of categorizing an element is by physical appearance: Is it colored? Does the
surface have a shiny luster or does it have a dull finish? Still, a third classification is the
elements ability to conduct an electric current.
All three of these represent physical properties since they deal with the way the element itself
behaves on its own, in the absence of other substances.
Chemical properties, on the other hand, have to do with the way in which one element or
compound interacts with other pure substances. The reaction with acids or other chemicals are
examples of tests of the chemical properties of an element.
In this experiment, you will run five different tests on solid samples of eight separate elements,
each of which will be identified only by code letters, a-h. Three of the tests will involve physical
properties, while the other two will illustrate chemical behavior. Tests will be carried out in the
wells of a plastic well test plate, except as otherwise indicated. Element h will be distributed by
your teacher, since it is unsafe to handle directly. The other seven elements are quite safe,
although reasonable precautions (such as washing your hands thoroughly before leaving the
laboratory should always be taken.
Your teacher will also demonstrate the use of a conductivity tester to measure the ability of each
of the elements to conduct an electric current.
The physical properties will be studied first because the reaction with other chemicals may
change the physical properties of the element being tested. As you recall, chemical properties
involve chemical changes, which change the identities of some or all of the reactants.
Due to difficulties in handling element h, your teacher will demonstrate the tests for brittleness
and for conductivity during the pre-lab discussion. You will do the other tests on h yourself.

Materials
Apparatus
Well-test plate
Forceps or tweezers
Conductivity tester
Distilled water wash bottle
Safety goggles

Reagents
0.5 M HCl(aq), about 2 mL
0.5 M CuCl2(aq), about 2 mL
Samples of elements a-h

Safety
1. Handle hydrochloric acid with care; it is corrosive to skin and clothing.
2. Al least one of the solid element samples is toxic, and will stain skin and clothing. Avoid
touching the samples; wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving
the laboratory.
3. Safety goggles and a lab apron must be worn at all times in the laboratory.
Pre-Laboratory Questions
1. Consult the periodic table. Based on the elements you are familiar with, where are most
of the metals found?

2. Look at the numbering system for the groups as explained in Chapter 3 of your textbook.
Do the A groups contain mostly metals or mostly nonmetals? Do the groups in the
middle of the table, (transition elements) contain mostly metals or mostly nonmetals?

3. What basis did Mendeleev use to divide elements into groups?

Procedure
Part 1

Tests of Physical Properties

1. Place small pieces of each of the elements a through g in separate wells of your test plate
using forceps or a small spatula. Record the color and appearance; is the surface dull or
shiny? (In other words, does it have a luster?)
2. Using tweezers or forceps, try bending each sample. Will it bend (is it malleable), or does
it snap or crumble into pieces, showing brittleness? If you cannot get it to bend or break,
remove the sample from the well, set it on a clean, hard surface (like a piece paper on te
base of a ring stand) and try hitting it gently with an iron ring or some other instrument,
such as a small hammer. Does pounding cause the sample to flatten (malleability) or does
the solid shatter (brittleness)? Record your results in your Data Table.
3. Test the electrical conductivity of your sample by touching the two wire ends of your
conductivity tester to each sample. If your tester uses only a single LED, decide if it
lights brightly, weakly or not at all. If you are using a tester with multiple LEDs note how
many (if any) of them light up. If your tester uses sound, record the loudness of the
sound. Record your results in the Data Table.
Part 2

Tests of Chemical Properties

4. Divide your samples so that you have two wells containing element a, two with element
b, and so on. You may need to get more of some of the elements, but these tests can be
done with very small samples; you need only be able to see whether changes are taking
place.
5. To one of the wells containing element a, add just enough dilute hydrochloric acid,
HCl(aq), to cover the solid; you do not need to fill the well. Look for any evidence of
chemical reaction, such as color changes (in either the sample or the acid), evolution of a
gas, or even significant changes in temperature, although those will be hard to detect with
such small quantities.
6. Test the other sample of a with copper(II) chloride solution, CuCl2(aq). Again, look for
any sign of chemical change. In the same fashion, test the rest of the solids, b through h,
with hydrochloric acid and with copper(II) chloride solution. Record all of your results in
your Data Table.
Cleaning Up
1. While most of the solids are not dangerous, they are not water soluble, so you must keep
the pieces from falling into the sink where they can wash down the drain. You may need
to use tweezers or forceps to remove solid pieces from some of the wells.
2. Use a wash bottle to rinse your test plate and then wash the test plate thoroughly with
soap and water and return it to its place. If one or more wells were stained during the
experiment today, your teacher may be able to show you how to clean it. For there to be

any chance to remove stains, the cleaning must be done before the stain has a chance to
set into the plastic, so dont wait to clean up your test plate.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory.
Data/Observations
Data Table
Element

Malleable or
Brittle?

Conducts?

Shiny or Dull?

Color or Other
Characteristics

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Analysis and Conclusions

1. For each of the five tests of physical and chemical properties, separate the eight elements
according to their behavior on that particular test. Place the letter of each element in the
space below the descriptions that fit.

A. Physical Properties
Malleable

Shiny

Conducts

Brittle

Dull

Nonconducting

B. Chemical Properties
Reacts with HCl(aq)

Reacts with CuCl2(aq)

Unreactive with HCl(aq)

Unreactive with CuCl2(aq)

2. Combine your five lists from Question 1 into two groups of elements such that all the
members of a given group are alike in at least most of the properties tested. You may find
that you have one or two elements that dont clearly belong to either of your two
categories because some properties fit one group, while other properties fit the second
group better. If that happens, make them a third category.
Category 1

Category 2

Category 3 (?)

3. Describe briefly the criteria you used to make your groupings. Identify any difficulties
you encountered in deciding where to place each element.

4. Using the definitions for metals, nonmetals, and metalloids from your textbook, and your
groupings, try to identify each of the elements a through h as being a metal, a nonmetal,
or a semimetal/metalloid.
Element
Classifications