Period 3 Elements Experiment

Results
Element observations
Element Observations Metal or non-metal
Sodium

Magnesium

Aluminium

Sulfur

Reactions with water (heat gently if no observable reaction at room temperature)

Element Observations
Sodium

Magnesium

Aluminium

Sulfur

Reactions with hydrochloric acid

Element Observations
Magnesium

Aluminium

Sulfur

Discussion questions
1 What happens to the metallic character of elements as you move across the period from
left to right?
2. What happens to the reactivity of metals as you move across the period from left to
right?
3. Explain your answer to question 2 in terms of atomic structure and core charge.

Conclusion
Period 3 Elements : Expected results & answers
Results
Element observations
Element Observations Metal or non-metal
Sodium Greyish to dirty white chunks Metal
Magnesium Shiny silvery ribbon Metal
Aluminium Shiny silvery foil Metal
Sulfur Small, dull yellow chunks Non-metal

Reactions with water

Element Observations (reaction with water)
Sodium Sodium moves at high speed producing a fume of gas, which may burst
into flame.
Magnesium Slow reaction with hot water
Aluminium No reaction
Sulfur No reaction; yellow powder floats on top of water

Reactions with hydrochloric acid

Element Observations (reaction with HCl)
Magnesium Rapid reaction, gas pops with lighted match
Aluminium A few bubbles on the surface
Sulfur No reaction

1 a The metallic character of the Period 3 elements decreases across the period; metals are
found on the left and non-metals on the right.
Sodium and magnesium, in Group 2, look metallic (they are lustrous); sulfur, in Group 16,
does not have any of the characteristic appearance of a metal.

b Moving from left to right across a period, a proton is successively added to the nucleus. As a
consequence, the core charge of successive elements increases and the attraction of the outer
electrons to the nucleus increases. The outer electrons in atoms of the elements on the left of
the period can be lost more readily, giving those elements their metallic character.
2 Reactivity with water decreases.
3 Reactivity with acid decreases.
Conclusion
4 This practical activity demonstrates that elements in the same period do not share similar
properties, despite the location of their outer electrons in the same shell. Rather, trends in
properties are evident from left to right across a period, including decreasing metallic character
and decreasing reactivity with water and acid.