The Periodic Table Quiz

Question 1

Who is credited with creating the first widely recognised periodic table?

Accepted Answer

Dmitri Mendeleev

Answer

Antoine Lavoisier

Answer

John Dalton

Answer

Henry Moseley

Question 2

How many elements are in the modern periodic table?

Accepted Answer

118

Answer

92

Answer

108

Answer

120

Question 3

What is the atomic number of an element?

Accepted Answer

The number of protons in the nucleus

Answer

The number of neutrons in the nucleus

Answer

The total number of subatomic particles

Answer

The element's mass number

Question 4

What is the chemical symbol for Gold?

Accepted Answer

Au

Answer

Gd

Answer

Go

Answer

Ag

Question 5

What are the noble gases, and why are they called 'noble'?

Accepted Answer

Group 18 gases that are largely unreactive due to full electron shells

Answer

Rare and expensive gases

Answer

Gases found only in noble metal ores

Answer

The lightest gases in the table

Question 6

Which element is the most abundant in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen

Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

Argon

Question 7

What is the lightest element in the periodic table?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen

Answer

Helium

Answer

Lithium

Answer

Neon

Question 8

What property is used to arrange elements in the modern periodic table?

Accepted Answer

Atomic number (number of protons)

Answer

Atomic mass

Answer

Alphabetical order

Answer

Boiling point

Question 9

Alkali metals (Group 1) react vigorously with water. Which of these is an alkali metal?

Accepted Answer

Sodium

Answer

Magnesium

Answer

Calcium

Answer

Aluminium

Question 10

What is the chemical symbol for Iron?

Accepted Answer

Fe

Answer

Ir

Answer

In

Answer

Io

Question 11

Halogens (Group 17) are highly reactive non-metals. Which is a halogen?

Accepted Answer

Chlorine

Answer

Helium

Answer

Hydrogen

Answer

Neon

Question 12

What does the 'period' (row) in the periodic table tell you?

Accepted Answer

How many electron shells (energy levels) the atom has

Answer

The element's reactivity

Answer

The number of neutrons

Answer

The element's state at room temperature

Question 13

What does the 'group' (column) in the periodic table tell you?

Accepted Answer

The number of electrons in the outermost shell (valence electrons)

Answer

The number of protons

Answer

The atomic mass

Answer

The element's melting point

Question 14

Which element has the chemical symbol 'K'?

Accepted Answer

Potassium

Answer

Krypton

Answer

Calcium

Answer

Kurchatovium

Question 15

What are transition metals and where are they found on the periodic table?

Accepted Answer

Metals in groups 3–12 (the middle block)

Answer

Group 1 and 2 metals

Answer

Metals in group 17 and 18

Answer

All metallic elements

Question 16

Carbon can exist in different forms (allotropes). Which is NOT a carbon allotrope?

Accepted Answer

Silicon

Answer

Diamond

Answer

Graphite

Answer

Graphene

Question 17

What is the most electronegative element (most strongly attracts electrons)?

Accepted Answer

Fluorine

Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Chlorine

Answer

Nitrogen

Question 18

Which element is liquid at room temperature and is a metal?

Accepted Answer

Mercury

Answer

Bromine

Answer

Gallium

Answer

Caesium

Question 19

What is the most abundant element in the universe?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen

Answer

Helium

Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Carbon

Question 20

Radioactive elements decay over time. What does 'half-life' mean?

Accepted Answer

The time for half of the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay

Answer

The time for all of a radioactive sample to decay

Answer

The age of a radioactive element

Answer

The time for radioactivity to become harmless