Home > Science Experiments > Periodic Table - Experiment 1 - Metals versus Non-metals: Which areas of the periodic table have elements that conduct electricity?

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Experiment 1
Metals versus Non-metals: Which areas of the periodic table have elements that conduct electricity?

Purpose/Hypothesis

Conductivity is one of the properties that relates to the position of the element in the periodic table. Conductivity relates to the electron configuration in the element's atoms. Atoms are constantly working to get a full count of atoms in their outer shell. They can do this by losing or gaining electrons. A full count gives the atom stability and,

thus, it does not need to react with other atoms. Elements in the lownumber groups have atoms with one or few electrons in their outer shell. This causes these atoms to lose electrons easily. Their electrons move among all the atoms in the substance. Atoms in the highest groups have a full or almost-full outer shell and usually gain electrons....

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1. Introduction
2. Elemental developments
3. Blocks of data
4. Across and down
5. Periodic patterns
6. Experiment 1 - Metals versus Non-metals: Which areas of the periodic table have elements that conduct electricity?
7. Experiment 2 - Soluble Families: How does the solubility of an element relate to where it is located on the Periodic Table?
8. Design Your Own Experiment