About This Work

This is a set of cards that are designed to be printed on 3X5 index cards. I have done this to save myself the step of cutting them and to limit the waist of paper. They are written with elementary students in mind and may be more appropriate for upper elementary to high school level students. I follow Maria in not limiting the students because of age. This is an introduction to the Periodic table and the way it is subdivided. It does not cover all the individual elements. These can be printed out in 3 sets to make a book, control cards, and matching cards (a.k.a 3-part cards) or just twice with the book acting as the control. The last card is a black and white so that the child may make their own book.

The Periodic Table

A tabular display organizing the 118 known chemical elements by selected properties of their atomic structure.

The Periods

The horizontal rows of elements. The characteristic shared is the atomic orbital number which corresponds with the number of the row.

The Groups

Also known as a family, a vertical column in the periodic table . There are 18 in the standard periodic table, including the dblock elements, but excluding the f-block.

Hydrogen

This is a special element because it has the characteristics of group 1 and 7. Though it doesnt really belong to any family.

Helium

This is another special element. Even though it is grouped with group 8, it may only have 2 electrons in its outer shell

The Alkali Metals

Group one is the most reactive group because has only one electron in its outer shell.

The Alkaline Earth Metals

Group 2 is the second most reactive family of elements. When they are combined with other elements they are likely to form basic(>7ph) solutions.

The Transition Metals

Many element are in this family. They are the elements that are able to put 32 electrons in their outer shell.

Poor Metals

Not a rigorous IUPAC-approved nomenclature, They are distinguished from the metalloids by their significantly higher boiling points and conductivity in the same row.

The Metalloids

These are the elements that can neither be classified as metal nor non-metal, because they have properties of both.

The Nonmetals

This family is poor conductors of heat and electricity and are dull and brittle. They have significantly lower melting and boiling points unlike metals.

The Halogen Group

Group 17 elements are highly reactive and thus only found naturally as compounds. They have 7 electrons in their outer shell.

The Inert Gasses

Group 0, are non-reactive. They contain full outer shells and thus they rarely combine with other elements to for compounds.

The Lanthanide Series

Also known as, the rare earth elements. They are the group of elements with atomic number increasing from 57 (lanthanum) to 71 (lutetium).

The Actinide Series

The elements with atomic numbers from 89 to 103. They are commonly known as the radioactive rare earths because of the radioactive nature of many.