An Elemental Challenge
Introduction
Recognizing the elements and their symbols is an important part of the chemistry curriculum.
Make this tedious task a little more enjoyable by challenging your students to complete the
Elemental Challenge puzzle. Simple (and not so simple) clues will help students identify the symbols and names of 40
different elements.
Tips
• The elements are arranged in order of their first ionization energies, which is similar to the order of their
electronegativity values as well. First ionization energies were chosen because more elements have published
ionization energies than electronegativity values. Some elements (e.g., the man-made elements) do not have
published ionization energies and these values were estimated. Like most values, the first ionization energies are
constantly being updated so if your periodic table has slightly different values, please don’t fret.
• Give students extra credit if they can identify the physical property of the elements by which they are arranged. Have
the students focus on the elements at the top of the list and bottom of the list (ignore the last two, they are estimates)
and they should see a trend. Many periodic properties follow a similar trend to first ionization energies so there may
be several correct answers.
• Explain to students that this activity was developed by a 45-year-old male chemist. If students need help, have them
ask their parents!
• If this activity is too difficult, provide the list of element symbols, names, or atomic numbers as additional clues. The
objective of the activity is to gain familiarity with the periodic table and some of the element symbols and names.
Three sets of clues are included if you wish to use them.
Possible Clues
Element Symbols
Am, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, C, F, Fe, Fr, H, He, Ho, I, In, K, La, Li, Mo, Mt, N, Ne, No, Np, O, P, Pa, Pm, Po, Pu, Ra, Rn, S,
Si, Tb, Ti, U, V, W, Y
Element Names
Americium, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Bismuth, Bromine, Carbon, Fluorine, Francium, Helium, Holmium, Hydrogen,
Indium, Iodine, Iron, Lanthanum, Lithium, Meitnerium, Molybdenum, Neon, Neptunium, Nitrogen, Nobelium, Oxygen,
Phosphorus, Plutonium, Polonium, Potassium, Promethium, Protactinium, Radium, Radon, Silicon, Sulfur, Terbium,
Titanium, Tungsten, Uranium, Vanadium, Yttrium
Atomic Number
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33, 35, 39, 42, 49, 53, 56, 57, 61, 65, 67, 74, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 91, 92, 93,
94, 95, 102, 109
Connecting to the National Standards
This laboratory activity relates to the following National Science Education Standards (1996):
Unifying Concepts and Processes: Grades K–12
Systems, order, and organization
Evidence, models, and explanation
Content Standards: Grades 5–8
Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry
Content Standards: Grades 9–12
Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry
© 2016 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
Publication No. 10571
061616
SCIENTIFIC
An Elemental Challenge continued
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© 2016 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Answer Sheet
Clue Additional Clue Element Symbol Element Name
Masculine pronoun He Helium
Sound a horse makes Ne Neon
35th President’s middle initial Kennedy F Fluorine
Fish ’_ Chips Short for and N Nitrogen
Oprah’s magazine O Oxygen
Enthalpy H Hydrogen
Response to a very cold day Br Bromine
Average grade C Carbon
A nurse Registered nurse Rn Radon
Pressure P Phosphorus
Me, myself, and _ I Iodine
Entropy S Sulfur
__ The World Turns A soap opera As Arsenic
Hamlet: To __ or not to __ Be Beryllium
Deli sandwich: ___-Boy Po Polonium
Spanish for “yes” Si Silicon
43rd President’s middle initial George Bush W Tungsten
Jack’s giant yelled this Jack in the Beanstalk Fe Iron
Good __, see you later… Bi Bismuth
Cow’s favorite response Mo Molybdenum
When you don’t win or lose Ti Titanium
Volume V Vanadium
A toddler’s common question Why? Y Yttrium
Hershey, __ Pennsylvania Pa Protactinium
Not me, it must be __ You U Uranium
One of Santa’s favorite words Ho, Ho, Ho Ho Holmium
Before noon A.M. Am Americium
IM speak for No Problem Instant Messenging Np Neptunium
A serious lung disease Tuberculosis Tb Terbium
Father’s response to a stinky diaper Pu Plutonium
Opposite of out In Indium
Cajun Country Louisiana La Lanthanum
Afternoon P.M. Pm Promethium
Let sleeping dogs __ Li Lithium
Cheering on the home team Ra Radium
Sound a sheep makes Ba Barium
Strike out in baseball K Potassium
France Fr Francium
A toddler’s common response No Nobelium
e.g., Everest Mountain Mt Meitnerium
An Elemental Challenge continued
3
© 2016 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
An Elemental Challenge
Clue Element Symbol Element Name
Masculine pronoun
Sound a horse makes
35th President’s middle initial
Fish ’_ Chips
Oprah’s magazine
Enthalpy
Response to a very cold day
Average grade
A nurse
Pressure
Me, myself, and _
Entropy
__ The World Turns
Hamlet: To __ or not to __
Deli sandwich: __-Boy
Spanish for “yes”
43rd President’s middle initial
Jack’s giant yelled this
Good __, see you later…
Cow’s favorite response
When you don’t win or lose
Volume
A toddler’s common question
Hershey, __
Not me, it must be __
One of Santa’s favorite words
Before noon
AIM speak for No Problem
A serious lung disease
A father’s response to a stinky diaper
Opposite of out
Cajun Country
Afternoon
Let sleeping dogs __
Cheering on the home team
Sound a sheep makes
Strike out in baseball
France
A toddler’s common response
e.g., Everest
