Periodic Trends Webquest



Name: ____________________________ Date: _____________ Per: ________

Periodic Trends Webquest

For the past few days we've been studying trends on the periodic table. Ionization energy increases this way...electronegativity decreases that way...atomic radius gets bigger over there and smaller over here...

Talk, talk, talk. That's all we've been doing. You listen to me, you write stuff down (maybe), and I keep my fingers crossed that you learn something. Today, however, your goal is to find the data to back up these mythical trends that I've been talking at you about.

Part I.

1. Go to . Click on the following elements and fill in the chart

provided.

2. Using the information from the first set of elements, predict what you think the second

set might be. Don’t cheat and look!!! Your predictions won’t be graded!

Data Table for Periodic Trends Webquest

|Element |Atomic Radius |Ionization Energy |Electronegativity |

|Lithium | | | |

|Beryllium | | | |

|Boron | | | |

|Sodium | | | |

|Magnesium | | | |

|Aluminum | | | |

| |

|Your Predictions |

|Carbon | | | |

|Silicon | | | |

|Nitrogen | | | |

|Phosphorus | | | |

Part II.

Your assignment is to use the internet resources found below to research each of the trends. This data should be entered into each of the blank periodic tables, and then you are to answer a few questions about each trend.

Recommended Resources



Web Elements - best periodic table on the web



CehmiCool periodic table - another periodic table with thorough info for every element



An interactive periodic table with lots of great information!



A good, semi-visual explanation of how first ionization energies work



A very through explanation of how first ionization energy trends work



Data about the elements that is sortable by various aspects.



Los Alamos National Labs webpage with very current info - especially on the heaviest elements

Part A: Categories of Elements on the Periodic Table

Go to and follow the links to answer the questions.

Periodic Table –

1. What is a group?

2. What is a period?

3. Families - How are elements grouped into families?

4. Metals – Approximately what % of elements do metals make up?

5. Alkali metals - Who's in? Who's out? What are some properties of the alkali metals?

6. Lanthanide Series (part of the inner transition metals) - Under "Meet the Family", what is unique about the actinide series?

7. Halogens - How many electrons do halogens have in their valence energy levels? What do halogens like to react with?

8. Inert gases (noble gases) - Why are they happy?

Part B: Atomic Radii

1. What units of measurement are used for this trend?

2. Which element has the greatest atomic radius? ____________________________

Smallest atomic radius? _____________________

3. What is the general trend of atomic radius? Show trend on periodic table above with arrows.

4. What appears to be the trend in atomic radius as you move from left to right in a row?

5. What appears to be the trend in atomic radius as you move down a column?

6. Pick one of the elements that doesn't fit the overall trend, and explain why.

7. Explain the horizontal / periodic trend using terms like “effective nuclear force”.

8. Explain the group / vertical trend using terms like “electron shielding”.

Part C: Ionization Energy

1. What units of measurement are used for this trend?

2. Which element has the greatest ionization energy? ____________________________

Smallest ionization energy? _____________________

3. What is the general trend in ionization energy? Show trend on periodic table above with arrows.

4. What appears to be the trend in ionization energy as you move from left to right in a row?

5. What appears to be the trend in ionization energy as you move down a column?

6. Pick one of the elements that doesn't fit the overall trend, and explain why.

7. Explain the horizontal / periodic trend using terms like “effective nuclear force”.

8. Explain the group / vertical trend using terms like “electron shielding”.

Part D: Electronegativity

1. What units of measurement are used for this trend?

2. Which element has the greatest electronegativity? ____________________________

Smallest electronegativity? _____________________

3. What is the general trend in electronegativity? Show trend on periodic table above with arrows.

4. What appears to be the trend in electronegativity as you move from left to right in a row?

5. What appears to be the trend in electronegativity as you move down a column?

6. Pick one of the elements that doesn't fit the overall trend, and explain why.

7. Explain the horizontal / periodic trend using terms like “effective nuclear force”.

8. Explain the group / vertical trend using terms like “electron shielding”.

Part III. Summary Questions

1. State the general trend for each property if you move from left to right on the Periodic

Table. Now, state the general trend from top to bottom.

2. How do atomic radius, ionization energy, and electronegativity change within a

group?

3. How do they change within a period?

4. How are electronegativity and ionization energy related to atomic radius? Why do

you think that?

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