Elements Laboratory

Question: Can properties be used to classify elements?

Purpose: To investigate properties of elements

Hypothesis: I think that it is possible to classify elements by their properties, because every element must have at least one property that is different from all the others

Procedures:

A) Written Procedures: To test if this hypothesis worked we will use eight elements from the table, and test each property: physical appearance, density, flexibility, magnetism, conductivity, reaction during heating (observation), and appearance after heating (description). Take an element, and first put it under a disectoscope. Write down what you see. Then measure out the same amounts of each element in volume, and weigh them all. That’s density. Then try to bend each element with your hands, or a pair of tweezers. That’s flexibility. Now touch each element with a magnet to the top. Lift the magnet, and see if it stays. That’s magnetism. Now by using wires attach a light bulb with one end to two connected batteries. Then put an element on the other side of the batteries, and attach the wire to it. See if the light bulb lights. That’s conductivity. Now light the a-burner, and hold an element with the tongs over the flame. Observe. Then see what is left after you take it away from the burner by putting it under the disectoscope.

B) Materials List:

Samples of 8 elements

Alcohol burner

Matches

Magnet

Tongs

Safety goggles

Magnifying glass/Disectoscope

Wires

Light bulb

Two batteries

Observations/data:

Conclusion and Analysis: Using this graph we see that classify elements into different groups, for example we can classify metals and nonmetals, conductive materials, and not conductive materials, flexible and non-flexible, etc.

New Questions: But are there any elements that are the same in property? What are properties of gases? (You can’t test them for magnetism)