Element Project

Part 1  Researching an Element

Goal of activity

  1. When were the most common elements discovered?
  2. Who discovered them?
  3. How did the scientist discover the elements?
  4. What methods did they use to separate them from compounds?
  5. How did the methods change over time?

Procedure
Every student in the class will research information about the discovery of 2 of the 50 most important elements.  They will then contribute information about their element into a database.  When the information is done they will search the database and pull out the important information to answer the  goals of the activity.

Searching can be best done with the Google Search Engine   Search phrases

  • separation of .....from compounds
  • history of ..................
  • discovery of ...................

Part 2 Drawing Conclusions about the Discovery of Elements

Part 3 Extra Credit : Time Line

Enter your information in to the Database below

Period        Last Name

Element    Symbol

Date Element was first discovered       

(NOTE: some elements have been known since ancient times and the exact information about their discovery is unknown.  For these elements enter a " 0 " )

Who first isolated or first separated the element from compounds (last name only)(NOTE: some elements have been known since ancient times and the exact information about their discovery is unknown.  For these elements enter a " unknown " )

What country did this person come from ? (NOTE: some elements have been known since ancient times and the exact information about their discovery is unknown.  For these elements enter a " unknown " )

How did they separate the substance to prove it was an element?

Address of Web Site   Copy/paste from web site