Periodic Table Scavenger Hunt worksheet for students to explore element facts using the periodic table.
A printable "Periodic Table Scavenger Hunt" worksheet with 20 questions about elements, atomic numbers, symbols, and properties, designed for educational use.
PNG
791×1024
173.2 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #827499
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Periodic Table Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Periodic Table Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
Let's solve each question in the Periodic Table Scavenger Hunt using general knowledge of the periodic table. I'll provide the correct answers and a brief explanation for each.
---
1. Which element is number 14 on the periodic table?
Answer: Silicon (Si)
*Explanation:* Atomic number 14 corresponds to silicon.
2. What is the element symbol for californium?
Answer: Cf
*Explanation:* Californium’s chemical symbol is Cf, named after the state of California.
3. How many protons are in an atom of bismuth?
Answer: 83
*Explanation:* The atomic number of bismuth (Bi) is 83, which means it has 83 protons.
4. To which element group does argon belong?
Answer: Noble gases (Group 18)
*Explanation:* Argon is a noble gas, found in Group 18 of the periodic table.
5. Which element would you expect to have a higher mass: cadmium or zinc?
Answer: Cadmium
*Explanation:* Cadmium (Cd) has an atomic mass of about 112.41 u, while zinc (Zn) is about 65.38 u. So cadmium is heavier.
6. What is the atomic mass of carbon?
Answer: Approximately 12.01 u
*Explanation:* The average atomic mass of carbon is 12.01 atomic mass units (u), based on isotopes like C-12 and C-13.
7. What do you call the element series from atomic number 57–71?
Answer: Lanthanides
*Explanation:* Elements 57–71 are known as the lanthanide series.
8. Which element has a symbol that starts with a letter different from the first one in its name: aluminum, copper, gold, rhenium?
Answer: Copper (Cu)
*Explanation:* Copper's symbol is Cu (from Latin *cuprum*), not "C". Aluminum (Al), gold (Au), and rhenium (Re) all start with the same letter as their names.
9. Which element has the lowest atomic mass?
Answer: Hydrogen (H)
*Explanation:* Hydrogen has the lowest atomic mass (~1.008 u).
10. What is the first element with an atomic mass greater than 100?
Answer: Yttrium (Y) – but wait, let’s check:
*Actually, the first element with atomic mass > 100 is Tantalum (Ta), atomic mass ~180.95.*
But if we go by order of atomic number:
- Ruthenium (Ru): ~101.07 → so Ru is the first with mass > 100.
Answer: Ruthenium (Ru)
*Explanation:* Ruthenium (atomic number 44) has an atomic mass of approximately 101.07, making it the first element with mass over 100.
11. What is the first basic metal on the periodic table?
Answer: Lithium (Li)
*Explanation:* Basic metals are typically metals that form basic oxides. Lithium (Group 1) is the first metal in the periodic table and forms a basic oxide.
12. True or false: Tin and antimony are in the same element group.
Answer: False
*Explanation:* Tin (Sn) is in Group 14; Antimony (Sb) is in Group 15. They are adjacent but not in the same group.
13. What is the heaviest alkali metal?
Answer: Francium (Fr)
*Explanation:* Alkali metals are Group 1. Francium (Fr) is the heaviest naturally occurring one (though radioactive and rare). It has atomic number 87.
14. How many protons are in an atom of magnesium?
Answer: 12
*Explanation:* Magnesium (Mg) has atomic number 12, so it has 12 protons.
15. Which of the following is not a nonmetal: sulfur, oxygen, silicon, nitrogen?
Answer: Silicon
*Explanation:* Sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen are nonmetals. Silicon is a metalloid, not a nonmetal.
16. What is the name of the element with the symbol W?
Answer: Tungsten
*Explanation:* W comes from *Wolfram*, the German name for tungsten.
17. Which element has an atomic mass of 106.42?
Answer: Palladium (Pd)
*Explanation:* Palladium has an atomic mass of approximately 106.42 u.
18. Astatine belongs to which element group: nonmetal, halogen, noble gas?
Answer: Halogen
*Explanation:* Astatine (At) is in Group 17, the halogens.
19. What is the element with the symbol Ba?
Answer: Barium
*Explanation:* Ba is the symbol for barium.
20. Name a letter never used in any element symbol?
Answer: J, Q, X, Z (any one of these — common answers include J or Q)
*Explanation:* Letters like J, Q, X, and Z are not used as initial letters in any element symbol. For example, no element starts with "J" or "Q".
---
1. Silicon
2. Cf
3. 83
4. Noble gases (Group 18)
5. Cadmium
6. 12.01 u
7. Lanthanides
8. Copper
9. Hydrogen
10. Ruthenium
11. Lithium
12. False
13. Francium
14. 12
15. Silicon
16. Tungsten
17. Palladium
18. Halogen
19. Barium
20. J (or Q, X, Z)
✔ These answers can be verified using a standard periodic table.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted into a printable answer key!
---
1. Which element is number 14 on the periodic table?
Answer: Silicon (Si)
*Explanation:* Atomic number 14 corresponds to silicon.
2. What is the element symbol for californium?
Answer: Cf
*Explanation:* Californium’s chemical symbol is Cf, named after the state of California.
3. How many protons are in an atom of bismuth?
Answer: 83
*Explanation:* The atomic number of bismuth (Bi) is 83, which means it has 83 protons.
4. To which element group does argon belong?
Answer: Noble gases (Group 18)
*Explanation:* Argon is a noble gas, found in Group 18 of the periodic table.
5. Which element would you expect to have a higher mass: cadmium or zinc?
Answer: Cadmium
*Explanation:* Cadmium (Cd) has an atomic mass of about 112.41 u, while zinc (Zn) is about 65.38 u. So cadmium is heavier.
6. What is the atomic mass of carbon?
Answer: Approximately 12.01 u
*Explanation:* The average atomic mass of carbon is 12.01 atomic mass units (u), based on isotopes like C-12 and C-13.
7. What do you call the element series from atomic number 57–71?
Answer: Lanthanides
*Explanation:* Elements 57–71 are known as the lanthanide series.
8. Which element has a symbol that starts with a letter different from the first one in its name: aluminum, copper, gold, rhenium?
Answer: Copper (Cu)
*Explanation:* Copper's symbol is Cu (from Latin *cuprum*), not "C". Aluminum (Al), gold (Au), and rhenium (Re) all start with the same letter as their names.
9. Which element has the lowest atomic mass?
Answer: Hydrogen (H)
*Explanation:* Hydrogen has the lowest atomic mass (~1.008 u).
10. What is the first element with an atomic mass greater than 100?
Answer: Yttrium (Y) – but wait, let’s check:
*Actually, the first element with atomic mass > 100 is Tantalum (Ta), atomic mass ~180.95.*
But if we go by order of atomic number:
- Ruthenium (Ru): ~101.07 → so Ru is the first with mass > 100.
Answer: Ruthenium (Ru)
*Explanation:* Ruthenium (atomic number 44) has an atomic mass of approximately 101.07, making it the first element with mass over 100.
11. What is the first basic metal on the periodic table?
Answer: Lithium (Li)
*Explanation:* Basic metals are typically metals that form basic oxides. Lithium (Group 1) is the first metal in the periodic table and forms a basic oxide.
12. True or false: Tin and antimony are in the same element group.
Answer: False
*Explanation:* Tin (Sn) is in Group 14; Antimony (Sb) is in Group 15. They are adjacent but not in the same group.
13. What is the heaviest alkali metal?
Answer: Francium (Fr)
*Explanation:* Alkali metals are Group 1. Francium (Fr) is the heaviest naturally occurring one (though radioactive and rare). It has atomic number 87.
14. How many protons are in an atom of magnesium?
Answer: 12
*Explanation:* Magnesium (Mg) has atomic number 12, so it has 12 protons.
15. Which of the following is not a nonmetal: sulfur, oxygen, silicon, nitrogen?
Answer: Silicon
*Explanation:* Sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen are nonmetals. Silicon is a metalloid, not a nonmetal.
16. What is the name of the element with the symbol W?
Answer: Tungsten
*Explanation:* W comes from *Wolfram*, the German name for tungsten.
17. Which element has an atomic mass of 106.42?
Answer: Palladium (Pd)
*Explanation:* Palladium has an atomic mass of approximately 106.42 u.
18. Astatine belongs to which element group: nonmetal, halogen, noble gas?
Answer: Halogen
*Explanation:* Astatine (At) is in Group 17, the halogens.
19. What is the element with the symbol Ba?
Answer: Barium
*Explanation:* Ba is the symbol for barium.
20. Name a letter never used in any element symbol?
Answer: J, Q, X, Z (any one of these — common answers include J or Q)
*Explanation:* Letters like J, Q, X, and Z are not used as initial letters in any element symbol. For example, no element starts with "J" or "Q".
---
Final Answers Summary:
1. Silicon
2. Cf
3. 83
4. Noble gases (Group 18)
5. Cadmium
6. 12.01 u
7. Lanthanides
8. Copper
9. Hydrogen
10. Ruthenium
11. Lithium
12. False
13. Francium
14. 12
15. Silicon
16. Tungsten
17. Palladium
18. Halogen
19. Barium
20. J (or Q, X, Z)
✔ These answers can be verified using a standard periodic table.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted into a printable answer key!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of the periodic table worksheet.
