Year 8 Science · Unit 2 · Lesson 22
Foundation Worksheet
Learning Goals
Fill the gap
Choose the correct word from the word bank. Two words will not be used.
The number of in the nucleus decides which an atom belongs to. That number fixes the element’s place in the periodic table, including its (column). Its place tells us about its likely , such as how well it conducts electricity. Those properties explain the we find for it in everyday life.
Put the magnesium chain in order
Number the links from 1 (the atom) to 5 (the use).
| Step (1–5) | Link in the chain |
|---|---|
| When lit, it reacts with oxygen and gives off a very bright white light. | |
| Each magnesium atom has 12 protons in its nucleus. | |
| This places magnesium in Group 2, Period 3 of the periodic table. | |
| So magnesium is used in emergency flares and fireworks. | |
| Its place on the left side of the table shows it is a metal. |
True or false? Fix the false ones
Circle T or F. If a statement is false, correct it on the line.
1. Two atoms with different numbers of protons are always atoms of different elements.
Correct it:
2. The modern periodic table lists the elements in order of how heavy their atoms are.
Correct it:
3. A compound has properties halfway between the properties of the elements in it.
Correct it:
4. The best material for a job is the one that balances several properties against its cost.
Correct it:
Read the data
| Element | Atomic number | Group | Conducts electricity? | Metal, non-metal or metalloid? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 29 | 11 | yes, very well | |
| Sulfur (S) | 16 | 16 | no | |
| Tungsten (W) | 74 | 6 | yes | |
| Silicon (Si) | 14 | 14 | a little | |
| Argon (Ar) | 18 | 18 | no |
Source: published data for these five elements.
1. Complete the last column of Table 1. Use the conductivity and group columns.
Upgrade the answer
Scenario: a weak test answer
Asked “Why is iron used to build bridge frames?”, Jack wrote: “Because iron is a metal.”
Facts Jack could have used: iron atoms have 26 protons; iron is in Group 8, Period 4; it is a transition metal; it is strong and cheap; it rusts unless it is painted.
2. Rewrite Jack’s answer as a chain. Use at least three of the facts, and join them with linking words such as “which means” or “so”.
3. Copper and sulfur are both elements, but only copper is used for electrical wiring. Use Table 1 to explain why. Follow the chain for each element: atomic number, place in the table, category, property, and what that means for wiring.
Fill the gap
protons; element; group; properties; use. Not used (2): neutrons, compound.
Put the magnesium chain in order
Reading down the table as printed: 4, 1, 2, 5, 3.
Chain: 12 protons → Group 2, Period 3 → metal → bright white light when burned → flares.
True or false
1. True. 2. False: the elements are listed in order of atomic number (number of protons), not atomic mass. 3. False: a compound is a new substance with its own properties, which can be very different from its elements (for example, sodium chloride is table salt, but sodium is a reactive metal and chlorine a toxic gas). 4. True.
Read the data
1. Copper: metal. Sulfur: non-metal. Silicon: metalloid. Tungsten: metal. Argon: non-metal. [2 marks: all five correct; 1 mark for three or four]
Upgrade the answer
2. Model answer: Iron atoms have 26 protons, which places iron in Group 8, Period 4, among the transition metals. This means it is strong, and it is also cheap, so large amounts can be used to hold up a heavy bridge. Because iron rusts, the frame must be painted. [3 marks: 1 per correctly linked fact, up to 3; no marks for facts listed without links]
Show What You Know
3. Marking guide (points expected): 1 copper has atomic number 29 and is in Group 11; sulfur has atomic number 16 and is in Group 16; 1 copper is a metal (a transition metal) and sulfur is a non-metal; 1 as a metal, copper conducts electricity very well; 1 sulfur, a non-metal, does not conduct electricity; 1 conclusion linked by reasoning: a wire must carry current, so copper is suitable and sulfur is not (sulfur is also brittle, so it could not be drawn into a wire). [5 marks]
Common error to watch for: listing facts about each element without the linking step (“copper is a metal, so it conducts”). The lesson rewards the chain, not the list; an answer that never says why the category matters should not get the category and property marks together.