Each dot in the two displays below represents an element. In the display at left, they are arranged in the form of the periodic table. The display at right is a graph with atomic number of the horizontal axis, atomic radius on the vertical axis, and coloration determined by the natural state of the element.
Try This
- Click on any of the attribute names to bring up a menu with which you can change the displayed attribute.
- Change the vertical attribute to something different.
- Hover your mouse over a point in the periodic table graph. Notice that it shows the element name.
- Click on a point. Notice that it selects in both graphs.
- Marquee select points.
- Click in white space in the plot area to deselect all points.
- Click on a legend element to select all points of that color.
- Choose a numeric attribute for the legend.
Note: You can return to the original configuration at any time by refreshing the browser window.
Questions
- There are six elements whose atomic radii are large compared to other elements with atomic numbers close by. Which are they, and where do they appear in the periodic table? Explain this pattern in terms of electron orbitals.
- Find another property for the vertical axis that displays a pronounced pattern when graphed versus atomic number. Answer the same questions for this property as you did for atomic radius.
- Make a plot with year discovered on the horizontal axis and atomic number of the vertical axis. Make as many observations and conjectures as you can based on this graph.