The Mission:  You and your group will collect information about the elements shown below. You will create blocks displaying that information and arrange them into a modified periodic table. Finally, you will decode a message from an extraterrestrial source and match the elements of Planet X with those of Earth. Good luck.  Remember the truth is out there.

1

1

H

1776

2

13

14

15

16

17

2

He

1868

2

3

Li

1817

4

Be

1798

5

B

1808

6

C

?

7

N

1772

8

O

1774

9

F

1886

10

Ne

1898

3

11

Na

1807

12

Mg

1808

13

Al

1827

14

Si

1824

15

P

1669

16

S

?

17

Cl

1774

18

Ar

1894

4

19

K

1807

20

Ca

1808

31

Ga

1875

32

Ge

1886

33

As

1250

34

Se

1817

35

Br

1826

36

Kr

1898

5

37

Rb

1860

38

Sr

1790

49

In

1863

50

Sn

?

The table shows the atomic number, symbol, and date of discovery for each element that will be part of the modified periodic table.  The green blocks are metals.  The orange blocks are nonmetals. The purple blocks are metalloids.

Click the hyperlinks to discover the use of each element. 

To find the name, atomic mass, and phase of each element, consult the periodic table of elements on page 80-81 of your textbook. 

1. Use the hyperlinks on the table to find out how each element is used. 
2. The atomic number and date of discovery are on the table.
3. Use the periodic table in your textbook to find the name, phase, and atomic mass of each element. 

1. Work together to make element blocks. 
2. Make a color border on the block to show whether the element is metal (green), metalloid (purple), or nonmetal (orange). 
3. Use the color code in your textbook for the element symbol to indicate a gas (red), solid (black), or liquid (blue) phase
4. All element blocks should show the atomic number, atomic mass, element symbol, and electron configuration.  It should also include a discovery date and a picture of its use. 

1. Work together to assemble the blocks into a modified periodic table.
2. Include the period and group numbers, the title, and a key that explains the color codes and block information.
3. Also, make sure that your include the black zigzag line (see page 81 of the textbook).

Use your project to take a quiz.  (Counts as part of the project grade).

Step 5 Decode the Message from Planet X

Step 6 Check Alien Periodic Table Responses

Rows

Rows of the periodic table are called periods.  Elements of a period all have the same number of electron orbitals. Periods 6 and 7 are not part of our project. 

Columns

Columns of the periodic table are called groups or families. Elements of a group have the same number of valence electrons. Group 1 is the Alkali Metals.  Group 2 is the Alkaline Earth Metals.  Group 17 is the Halogen family.  Group 18 is the Noble Gas Family.  Notice that Groups 13, 14, 15, and 16 are mixed elements.  The green elements are metals.  The purple elements are metalloids.  The orange elements are nonmetals.  Elements 51-54 are not part of our project.

Other Elements

Elements that appear on the full table between Ca and Ga and between Sr and In are called Transition Metals.  Al, Ga, In, and Sn are grouped together as "other metals."  The Lanthanide and Actinide series are usually displayed below the main table to save space.