Doc Brown's Chemistry - The PERIODIC TABLE introduction question exercise for GCSE level chemistry

[Author ©  Dr WP Brown PhD: Doc Brown's exam revision notes suitable for students of GCSE level chemistry and advanced level pre-university/college chemistry courses: periodic table chemistry [page updated Feb 17th 2026 *]

Some basic questions and ideas on the structure of the Periodic Table in terms of metals, non-metals, groups, periods, electron arrangements, alkali metals, noble gases, halogens, transition metals.

There are links to quizzes and detailed notes at the end of the page.

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KS4 Science GCSE/IGCSE CHEMISTRY task sheet - structured introductory worksheet question on the Periodic Table Revision KS4 Science GCSE/IGCSE/O level Chemistry Information Study Notes for revising for AQA GCSE Science, Edexcel GCSE Science/IGCSE Chemistry & OCR 21stC Science, OCR Gateway Science  WJEC gcse science chemistry CCEA/CEA gcse science chemistry (revise courses equal to US grade 8, grade 9 grade 10)

Simplified Periodic Table and Tasks

1. (a) Divide the metallic and non-metallic elements by a thick zigzag line.

(b) which type of element are most elements?

 

2. Quote five typical physical properties of (a) metals, (b) non-metals.

 

3. Quote at least two characteristic chemical properties of (a) metals, (b) non-metals.

 

4. What do we mean by

(a) Group of elements? - and why is it so important that they are 'grouped' in this way?

(b) a Period of elements? - how does the general character of the element change from left to right?

(c) a Transition Metal Series

 

5. Mark the Group numbers 1 - 0 (Group 8 is designated 0 for historical reasons) at the top of the correct column.

 

6. (a) Down the side mark the Period number from 1, down to 6.

(b) Name the first and last element in periods 1 to 3.

 

7. Which elements belong to (a) the Alkali Metals, (b) the Halogens, (c) the Noble Gases, (d) the first Transition Metals series. What type of elements are (b) and (c)? 

 

8. In what order were the elements placed in the first periodic tables? (eg by the Russian chemist Mendeleev)

 

9. In what order are the elements placed in the modern periodic table? (after answering 10. you should understand why)

 

10. For modern periodic tables, the order of argon and potassium has been reversed from the order in the first periodic tables, why? (clue find out the atomic masses of argon and potassium and think about their respective physical and chemical properties)

 

11. Electron arrangements and the Periodic Table:

(a) What are the rules about the arrangement of electrons in energy levels (shells) for the first 20 elements?

(b) what is the connection between an element's electron arrangement and its Group number?

(c) what is the connection between an element's electron arrangement and its Period number?

 

12. Given the following electron structures:

(A) 2,8,7   (B) 2,4,  (C) 2,8  (D) 2,8,8,1

(a) which is in group 4?, (b) which is a halogen?,  (c) which is on period 4?

(d) which is the most reactive metal?, (e) which is the most reactive non-metal?

 

13. From the list of groups and series listed in Q7., match the following element descriptions to one of them, and can you name a particular element(s) that fit(s) the above description?

(a) a very toxic and reactive green gas

(b) a grey tough metal forming coloured compounds

(c) a readily corroded silvery solid that fizzes with water

(d) an unreactive colourless gas

(e) an orange high melting solid and good electrical conductor

(f) soft low melting solid which is a good conductor of heat

(g) very reactive red liquid

(h) a gas used to fill the bulb of a lamp to stop the filament burning out

OTHER LINKS

Detailed GCSE/IGCSE revision notes on the Periodic Table

Detailed GCSE/IGCSE revision notes on the Group 1 Alkali Metals

Detailed GCSE/IGCSE revision notes on Group 7 The Halogens

Detailed GCSE/IGCSE Notes on the Physical & Chemical Properties and Uses of Transition Metals

Detailed GCSE/IGCSE revision notes on Atomic Structure