Chemical Nostradamus

Chemical Nostradamus

Activity 4. Prediction of unknown elements

 

Imagine you are a scientist like Dmitri Mendeleev. Your task is to “predict” the properties of an unknown chemical element based on its place in the periodic table.

Source: https://depositphotos.com

 

Select a blank space in the table (for example, below an existing element or between two known elements). This will be your “unknown element”.

  1. Use the periodic law to predict:
    • The atomic number of the element.
    • Its atomic mass (approximately).
    • Its chemical properties (activity, valence).
    • Its physical properties (state at room temperature, colour, density).
  2. Describe how this item could be used in practice – in industry, medicine or technology, based on similar items in the table. Use electronic resources (e.g., WebElements or Wikipedia) to reference for similar items. Then make an assumption:
    • How can it be useful in the industry?
    • What medical applications can it have?
    • Can it be used in technology?
  3. Submit your “predictions” in the electronic format of your choice:

 

Presentations (PowerPoint/Google Slides):

  • Create a short presentation to include:
  1. Atomic number, mass and properties of the selected predicted element;
  2. Comparison with similar elements in the periodic table;
  3. Possible applications in industry and technology;
  4. Pictures or diagrams associated with the item.

Spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets):

  • Create a data table for the predicted chemical element to include:
  1. Atomic and chemical properties of the element;
  2. Comparison with neighbouring elements;
  3. Summary of results and “predictions”;
  4. May contain formulas or graphs to compare properties.

 

Sample hint:

If your element is in group 1 (alkali metals) and is between potassium and rubidium, it is likely to be a soft metal with high reactivity and will react strongly with water. It can also be used in batteries, like sodium and lithium.

 

 

You can access the interactive periodic table at:

 

https://ptable.com – interactive and detailed version

https://www.webelements.com – offers additional information about the elements