Selecting experiments from periodic table

Use the periodic table chart for selecting experiments. A more thorough explanation of the classification of experiments is given below the periodic table chart.

Group 1 2   3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Period
1 1
H
2
He
2 3
Li
4
Be
5
B
6
C
7
N
8
O
9
F
10
Ne
3 11
Na
12
Mg
13
Al
14
Si
15
P
16
S
17
Cl
18
Ar
4 19
K
20
Ca
21
Sc
22
Ti
23
V
24
Cr
25
Mn
26
Fe
27
Co
28
Ni
29
Cu
30
Zn
31
Ga
32
Ge
33
As
34
Se
35
Br
36
Kr
5 37
Rb
38
Sr
39
Y
40
Zr
41
Nb
42
Mo
43
Tc
44
Ru
45
Rh
46
Pd
47
Ag
48
Cd
49
In
50
Sn
51
Sb
52
Te
53
I
54
Xe
6 55
Cs
56
Ba
* 71
Lu
72
Hf
73
Ta
74
W
75
Re
76
Os
77
Ir
78
Pt
79
Au
80
Hg
81
Tl
82
Pb
83
Bi
84
Po
85
At
86
Rn
7 87
Fr
88
Ra
** 103
Lr
104
Rf
105
Db
106
Sg
107
Bh
108
Hs
109
Mt
110
Ds
111
Rg
112
Uub
113
Uut
114
Uuq
115
Uup
116
Uuh
117
Uus
118
Uuo
 
*Lanthanoids * 57
La
58
Ce
59
Pr
60
Nd
61
Pm
62
Sm
63
Eu
64
Gd
65
Tb
66
Dy
67
Ho
68
Er
69
Tm
70
Yb
**Actinoids ** 89
Ac
90
Th
91
Pa
92
U
93
Np
94
Pu
95
Am
96
Cm
97
Bk
98
Cf
99
Es
100
Fm
101
Md
102
No
   

Classification of experiments on basis of elements

All experiments in the experiments-database are classified as being explorations of the properties of one or more elements. E.g. an experiment, in which the coordination properties of chromium ions are investigated can clearly be classified as specific to 'Cr'. In practice, however, classifying experiments in this way sometimes is not trivial.

In almost all of the experiments, many elements are used in one or other way. Only those elements, which are really investigated in an experiment are used in the classification of the experiment. An example may make things more clear:

Example: It is tested whether copper (II) ions form a precipitate of copper hydroxide and if so, whether this precipitate can be dissolved in acid again. This experiment can be described as follows:

Needed chemicals:

  • copper sulfate
  • sodium hydroxide
  • sulphuric acid

Description:

Prepare a solution of copper sulfate in water. In a separate test tube prepare a solution of sodium hydroxide in water. Mix these two solutions: A bright blue precipitate is formed.

Add an excess amount of dilute sulphuric acid to the blue precipitate: The precipitate dissolves. The liquid becomes clear and blue.

This experiment uses the elements Cu,S,O,H,Na

It is clear that this experiment should be classified as specific to copper. The other elements only are there as side-show. The experiment would work equally well with dilute nitric acid and potassium hydroxide.

Some experiments are classified as specific to two or even more elements. Some examples:

  • Formation of copper hexacyanoferrate(s) and investigation of colors of precipitates. This experiment is classified as (Cu,Fe). It is selected when Cu is clicked in the periodic table chart, but it is also selected when Fe is clicked.
  • Reaction of nitrite with concentrated hydrochloric acid with formation of nitrosyl chloride. Effect of addition of bromide, formation of new dark brown compounds. This is classified as (N,Cl,Br)

 

   

back to top of page

back to main experiments page