Introduction
The Periodic Table is a wonderful tool for chemists, but non-scientists who don’t understand it often see it as dull and boring.
In this activity you will be using your research skills to find out about: 
- the real value of the Periodic Table
- how the Periodic Table reveals patterns
- how the Periodic Table makes chemistry simpler to understand.
You will be using your literacy skills to produce a persuasive presentation to convince non-scientists of the value of the Periodic Table.
Task
You are going to make a presentation that will convince non-scientists that the Periodic Table really is useful.
Your presentation should:
- be persuasive, showing how the Periodic Table is really useful in helping people make sense of over 100 elements
- include some information about the history of the Periodic Table
- illustrate some differences between elements in the Periodic Table
- include information about the elements of Groups 1, 7, and 0
- explain how the Periodic Table can be used to make predictions
- contain six slides
- include pictures.
Process
Step 1
Research the following topics:
- a brief history of the Periodic Table, including who developed it and why
- a few interesting elements that show how different elements can be from one another
- the Group 1 elements (similarities and trends)
- the Group 7 elements (similarities and trends)
- the Group 0 elements (similarities and trends)
- how the Periodic Table can be used to make predictions
Step 2
Find some appropriate pictures to use in your presentation.
Step 3 (extension)
Choose one trend that you have researched and find some data to illustrate the trend. Think about the best way to display the data.
Step 4
Choose the key points that you have found out about and decide how they can be used to convince your audience that the Periodic Table really is useful.
Step 5
Make your presentation.
Sources
Purpose and development of the Periodic Table
An introductory video about the development of the Periodic Table and why it is so important.
www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/mendeleevs-periodic-table/14305.html
Group 1
The chemistry of the Group 1 elements (alkali metals).
www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/alkali_metals.php
Group 7
The chemistry of the Group 7 elements (halogens).
www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/halogens.php
Group 0
The chemistry of the Group 0 elements (noble gases).
www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/noble_gases.php
Element data (extension)
An interactive Periodic Table with data for each element.
Making predictions
One of Mendeleev’s greatest achievements was to predict the existence of germanium and what it would be like. This story really highlights the power of the Periodic Table.
www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/C-K/Germanium.html#b
Evaluation
You have made a presentation to convince non-scientists that the Periodic Table really is useful.
Look at the questions below and check if you have met all the criteria given in
the brief.
- Is your presentation persuasive?
- Does you presentation include some information about the history of the Periodic Table?
- Have you illustrated some differences between elements in the Periodic Table?
- Does your presentation include information about the elements of Groups 1, 7,
and 0? - Have you explained how the Periodic Table can be used to make predictions?
- Do you have a final summary slide that illustrates how powerful the Periodic
Table is? - Does your presentation contain six slides and include pictures?