Lesson Plan

Lesson: The Elements of Periods 2 and 3

Aim: To investigate the elements of Periods 2 and 3 in terms of their positions in the Periodic Table and
some of their properties.

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to :

1. explain the variation in :
(a) metallic/non-metallic nature
(b) electrical conductivity
across the 2nd and 3rd periods.
2. explain the trends in the above properties in terms of the structure and bonding of the elements.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already :

1. be familiar with the structure of the modern Periodic Table.
2. be familiar with the symbols of elements of Periods 2 and 3.
3. be familiar with the electronic configurations (s, p, d notation) for the elements of Periods 2 and 3.
4. know what is meant by electrical conductivity.
5. be familiar with simple metallic, covalent and ionic bonding.
6. be familiar with giant metallic, ionic and covalent network structures for solids.
7. be familiar with covalent molecular substances.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what they should look for.

Time taken to complete the activities : 80 minutes

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity. The pop-up
answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their responses. Worksheet
questions include questions that require recall, understanding and application of the new concepts learned.

© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. 1

 Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. • Teacher to quiz students on the • Courseware
(Ascertaining prior electronic configuration of the elements
knowledge and with proton numbers 1 – 20 and the
introducing lesson placement of these elements in groups
topic for the day). and periods in the Periodic Table.

• Teacher to introduce topic for the

lesson.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 and • Courseware

2 with the students.

• Activity 1 : The elements of Periods

2&3
Get students to view the pictures and
structures of the elements of Periods 2
and 3, including the isotopes of some
of the elements. Get the students to
note how the electrons fill the valence
shells of these elements.

• Activity 2 : Trends in electrical

conductivity
Use the properties selection to help
students note the change from metallic
to non-metallic character across the
periods. Get students to investigate
the trends in electrical conductivity
across the periods and link the
conductivity to the valence electron
arrangements of the elements and
their structure and bonding.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to go through the extension • Websites

activity. • Reference
books

© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. 2

 Worksheet Answers

1. The elements of Periods 2 and 3.

1.1 a. Carbon dioxide

b. The indicator will turn red, showing that the gas produced dissolved to give an acidic solution.
c. This behaviour is typical of non-metallic oxides, which usually dissolve in water to give acidic
solutions. Metallic oxides, when dissolved, give alkaline solutions.

1.2 a. Not typical of a metal: crumbly (usually, metals are malleable).

b. Typical of a metal: conducts electricity.
c. Delocalised electrons
d. It has a giant molecular structure with strong forces of attraction between the carbon atoms.

2. Trends in electrical conductivity.

2.1 a. Elements on the left have high electrical conductivity while elements on the right are insulators.
b. Yes.

2.2 The good conductors are metals, with delocalised electrons in their metallic lattices. The insulators are
all covalently bonded, as separate molecules or as a giant network structure. All the valence electrons
are fixed in bonds, or as lone pairs on atoms. There are no delocalised electrons to carry a current.
Also, boron has a giant covalent network structure, so there are no delocalised electrons.

2.3 Going from sodium to aluminium in Period 3, the number of valence electrons increases from 1 to 3.
Therefore, there are more valence electrons to carry a current.

2.4 The gases are composed of separate molecules. Although the molecules can move, they cannot carry
a current because they are neutral. There are no delocalised electrons present either, as the valence
electrons are used to make covalent bonds between the atoms in the molecules.

© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. 3