Element Trading Cards

In science class, you have been learning about elements and the properties of matter. There are many elements, each with its own set of properties. People use elements for different purposes, based on these properties. In this activity, you will learn more about the different chemical and physical properties of matter by creating your own element trading card collection.

Materials

• pen or pencil
• 3" x 5" index cards
• science reference books or access to the Internet

Procedure

Study the sample trading card shown here. Each trading card should contain the information shown below. Make cards for three to five elements in the Periodic Table.

• The element's atomic number, chemical symbol, name, and mass. Put this information in a box, just like in the Periodic Table.
• Chemical and physical properties, such as color, state at room temperature, melting point, conductivity, and reactivity
• Important uses for the element

Results

What is an example of something new you learned about an element? Which element had the most unusual properties? What were these properties?