properties of elements

Experiment                                                                                               Date

To investigate the properties of some elements and group them based on similar properties.

Materials:

Safety glasses and apron

Power pack

Electrical conductivity kit

Samples of the following substances:

  * magnesium

  * copper

  * sulfur

  * zinc

  * aluminium

  * carbon

  * iron

Steel wool

Method:

1. Put on safety glasses and apron.

2. Rub the surface of each of the elements with the steel wool.

3. Record a description of the freshly cleaned substance in a table.

4. Set up the electrical conductivity kit as demonstrated.

5. Switch on the electricity and record whether each of the substances conduct electricity.

Results:

The students were asked to design a table to record their results. I expected a table similar to the one below.

Conclusion:

Questions.

1.    Describe any difficulties experienced during the practical.

2.    Try to group the elements tested into two groups based on the properties observed.

Sometimes when I do this practical activity I use graphite instead of carbon powder to see whether the students can see an anomaly in their results because graphite is a non-metal that conducts electricity.