Periodic table, element card and electron shells
Show one element three ways: highlighted in the periodic table, as an element card with labelled properties, and as an electron shell diagram.
When to use it
Use these three items to connect an element's position in the periodic table with its atomic number and the way its electrons are arranged. Sodium, for example, sits in period 3 and group 1, has atomic number 11, and its 11 electrons fill three shells: 2, 8 and 1.
Each item works on its own, so you can use just one. All three are for reading and discussion: students do not answer anything in them.
Setting it up
In a worksheet, use the + and choose Periodic table, Element or Electron shell diagram. Typing the name into the picker's search box is the quickest way to find them.
The new item opens for editing. Set it up as described below.
Click the tick when you are done.
Periodic table: under Display options, choose whether to show the Title, Legend and Element key. Under Element fields, choose what each cell shows: Symbol, Atomic number, Name and Atomic mass. To highlight an element, click it in the table and set Highlighting under Element selection to Highlighted. It stays bright while the others are dimmed. Highlight by category highlights whole groups of elements instead.
Element: click an element in the table to choose it. Display mode switches between Single, one card, and Group, several elements in a row or a grid. Under Label positions, choose None, Left or Right for each property to label it on the card, for example Right for Atomic number. Custom label changes the label's wording.
Electron shell diagram: click an element in the table. Display mode offers Visual (the drawing), Numeric (the shell numbers) or Both. Show nucleus turns the nucleus on or off.
What students see
Students see the table with your highlighting, the element card with its labels, and the shell diagram. The expand button on the periodic table and the shell diagram opens them larger, which helps on small screens. The periodic table and the element card also have a download button that saves them as an SVG image.
Nothing is answered or saved.
Tips
When you highlight a single element, turn off Legend and Element key so students' eyes go straight to it.
Choose the same element in all three items and place them one after another, so students can compare the views directly.
Label only the property you are talking about. One label on the card is clearer than four.
Ask students to count the electrons in the diagram and check the total against the atomic number on the card.