Match the element with its description.
Match Term Definition
Sodium A) Highly reactive gas
Silicon B) Nonreactive gas
Bromine C) Has properties of both metals and nonmetals
Argon D) Malleable, soft, and shiny
Sodium - D) Malleable, soft, and shiny
Silicon - C) Has properties of both metals and nonmetals
Bromine - A) Highly reactive gas
Argon - B) Nonreactive gas
Use your periodic table of elements. Take any element from the first column, except for hydrogen and lithium, and answer the following questions:
What is the element's name and symbol?
Is it a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid?
Which family does it belong to?
How many protons, neutrons, and electrons does its neutral atom have?
I will use the element potassium (K) to answer these questions.
Name and symbol: Potassium (K)
Metal, nonmetal, or metalloid: Potassium is a metal.
Family: Potassium belongs to the alkali metal family.
Number of protons, neutrons, and electrons: The atomic number of potassium is 19, so it has 19 protons. The atomic mass of potassium is usually around 39, so it has approximately 20 neutrons (39 - 19 = 20). Since potassium is neutral, it also has 19 electrons.