Chemistry Periodic Table worksheet with fill-in-the-blank questions on element symbols, names, and material properties.

Let’s go through each question one by one and solve them step by step.

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Question 1: Define a family.

In the periodic table, a “family” is another word for a group — that means a vertical column of elements. Elements in the same family have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons (electrons in their outermost shell).

✔ So, a family = a group (vertical column) with similar properties.

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Question 2: What is a period?

A period is a horizontal row in the periodic table. As you move left to right across a period, the atomic number increases by 1 each time, and elements change from metals to nonmetals.

✔ So, a period = a horizontal row.

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Question 3: Symbols for elements

We need to recall or look up the standard chemical symbols:

- Magnesium → Mg
- Potassium → K (from Latin *Kalium*)
- Iron → Fe (from Latin *Ferrum*)
- Copper → Cu (from Latin *Cuprum*)

✔ Answers:
a) Mg
b) K
c) Fe
d) Cu

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Question 4: Names of elements from symbols

Again, we match symbols to names:

- C → Carbon
- Cl → Chlorine
- Au → Gold (from Latin *Aurum*)
- Sr → Strontium

✔ Answers:
a) Carbon
b) Chlorine
c) Gold
d) Strontium

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Question 5: The number of protons in an atom is that element’s ________.

This is the definition of atomic number. Every element has a unique number of protons — that’s what makes it that element.

✔ Answer: atomic number

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Question 6: The number of protons and neutrons in an atom is that atom’s ________.

Protons + neutrons = mass number (also called atomic mass number). Electrons are too light to count here.

✔ Answer: mass number

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Question 7: The ability of a material to be drawn into a thin wire is called ________.

This property is called ductility. Think of copper wires — they’re ductile!

✔ Answer: ductility

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Question 8: The ability of a material to be pounded into thin sheets is called ________.

This is malleability. Like gold being hammered into foil.

✔ Answer: malleability

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Question 9: Label as metal, nonmetal, or metalloid

Let’s think about each:

a) Ductile → Metals can be drawn into wires → Metal
b) Chlorine → It’s a gas, very reactive nonmetal → Nonmetal
c) Semiconductor → Metalloids like silicon do this → Metalloid
d) Malleable → Again, metals can be hammered → Metal
e) Cobalt → It’s a transition metal → Metal
f) Brittle → Nonmetals break easily; some metalloids too, but usually associated with nonmetals → Nonmetal (Note: Some might say metalloid, but brittle is more typical of nonmetals like sulfur)
g) Oxygen → Gas, classic nonmetal → Nonmetal
h) Good conductor of heat → Metals conduct heat well → Metal

Wait — let’s double-check “brittle”. While some metalloids are brittle, the term is most commonly used to describe nonmetals (like phosphorus or sulfur). In school-level chemistry, “brittle” is often linked to nonmetals.

Also, “semiconductor” is definitely metalloid.

So final labels:

a) Metal
b) Nonmetal
c) Metalloid
d) Metal
e) Metal
f) Nonmetal
g) Nonmetal
h) Metal

✔ All set!

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Final Answer:

1. A family is a vertical column (group) in the periodic table where elements have similar chemical properties.
2. A period is a horizontal row in the periodic table.
3. a) Mg b) K c) Fe d) Cu
4. a) Carbon b) Chlorine c) Gold d) Strontium
5. atomic number
6. mass number
7. ductility
8. malleability
9. a) Metal b) Nonmetal c) Metalloid d) Metal e) Metal f) Nonmetal g) Nonmetal h) Metal