Science, Tech, Math › Science Practice Using the Periodic Table to Find Element Facts Basic Periodic Table Chemistry Quiz Share Flipboard Email Take this quiz to practice using the periodic table of the elements to find elements, facts about them, and element groups and periods. Joachim Angeltun / Getty Images Science Chemistry Periodic Table Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry in Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Updated September 21, 2017 1. Using a periodic table, find the element symbol for copper. It is: C Co Cp Cu Correct Wrong Many periodic tables list the names of the elements. When you find the name, the element symbol will be either one or two letters. Many tables don't list the names, so it's a good idea to become familiar with element symbols. 2. The halogens are an element group. Which two elements are halogens? fluorine and neon sulfur and selenium chlorine and iodine chlorine and tellurium Correct Wrong Element groups are vertical columns in the periodic table. They are often labeled with either group names or else numbers. The halogens are the second-to-last column of the periodic table. 3. Rh is the symbol for which element? radon rutherfordium rhenium rhodium Correct Wrong If you have a periodic table that lists both element symbols and names, you can find "Rh" and then look for the corresponding name. Otherwise, you need to know the symbols. 4. What's the name of the last element in Period 2 of the periodic table? radium francium neon radon Correct Wrong Periods are rows on the periodic table. Most tables won't number them, but period 2 is the second row. So, the last element in the second period (row) is neon. Hydrogen and helium are the only elements in the first period. 5. Zn, Cd, and Hg are all in which group number? 6 11 12 13 Correct Wrong Unfortunately, chemists have used a variety of methods of numbering element groups over the years. The usual number for the group containing zinc, cadmium, and mercury is group 12. Older tables may use different numbering or even Roman numerals. 6. What is the atomic mass of nitrogen? 7 14.007 15 20.180 Correct Wrong The atomic mass or atomic weight is the decimal number in an element cell. All the other numbers you might encounter will be integers, so it's easy to identify. It's the mass of one mole of atoms of the element. For example, the atomic mass of hydrogen is 1.0079. Because the value is a weighted average of isotopes and information about isotopes changes over time, periodic tables made at different times may have different values. 7. The element with atomic number 12 is: neon sodium magnesium scandium Correct Wrong The atomic number is the integer number found on the periodic table. It is the number of protons in any atom of that element. For example, the atomic number of hydrogen is 1, that of helium is 2, and so on. The periodic table is ordered by increasing atomic number. 8. What element would you predict to have similar properties to aluminum? zinc gallium germanium selenium Correct Wrong Elements within the same group (column) share similar properties. Gallium is in the same group as aluminum. Both are basic metals. 9. What is the atomic mass of lithium chloride (LiCl)? 6.94 18.95 20.00 42.39 Correct Wrong In order to find the mass of a compound, you add up the masses of all the atoms that are present in it. In this case, you look up the atomic mass of lithium of Li (6.94) and that of chlorine or Cl (35.45) and add them together. 10. The '6' listed for carbon is its: atomic weight atomic number total number of nucleons element group Correct Wrong After all the other questions, this one should be easy for you! The "6" is the atomic number of carbon. Practice Using the Periodic Table to Find Element Facts You got: % Correct. You Need More Periodic Table Practice Jon Feingersh / Getty Images Good job! You missed some questions, but you completed the quiz so you should be better at reading the periodic table and retrieving element facts from it. You might want to review the periodic table study guide to brush up on concepts that are giving you trouble. Here's a clickable periodic table you can use if you need specific element facts. For more practice, try another periodic table quiz or see if you can correctly spell the (tricky) element names. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email Practice Using the Periodic Table to Find Element Facts You got: % Correct. Pretty Much Awesome With the Periodic Table Image Source / Getty Images Great job! You are skilled at reading a periodic table and using it to find information about the chemical elements. If you're a little shaky about some concepts, you can review how to use a periodic table. You can refer to the clickable periodic table of the elements if you need detailed facts. Are you ready for a more challenging quiz? See how well you understand the trends in element properties on the periodic table. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email