30 Common Elements

30 Common Elements

Assessment

Quiz

Chemistry

6th - 8th Grade

Practice Problem

Easy

NGSS
HS-PS1-1

Standards-aligned

Created by

Shana Schmidt

Used 208+ times

FREE Resource

About this resource

This quiz focuses on chemistry fundamentals, specifically the memorization and recognition of chemical element symbols and names from the periodic table. The content is appropriate for middle school students in grades 6-8, as it requires basic recall and recognition skills rather than complex chemical reasoning. Students need to master the standardized one- and two-letter symbols that represent elements, understanding that these symbols often derive from elements' English names (like O for oxygen) or their Latin origins (like Fe for iron from "ferrum"). The quiz covers 30 common elements that form the foundation of chemical literacy, including essential elements like hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, as well as metals like iron, copper, and gold. Students must demonstrate bidirectional knowledge—matching symbols to element names and element names to their corresponding symbols—which builds the vocabulary necessary for understanding chemical formulas, equations, and periodic table organization. Created by Shana Schmidt, a Chemistry teacher in the US who teaches grades 6 and 8. This assessment serves as an excellent tool for building fundamental chemical literacy through systematic practice with element symbols and names. The quiz works perfectly as a warm-up activity to start chemistry lessons, as homework to reinforce classroom learning, or as a formative assessment to gauge student mastery before moving to more complex topics like chemical bonding or stoichiometry. Teachers can use this for review sessions before tests, as independent practice stations, or as a quick check for understanding during instruction. The format supports differentiated instruction, allowing students to work at their own pace while building confidence with essential chemistry vocabulary. This foundational knowledge directly supports Next Generation Science Standards MS-PS1-1, where students develop models to describe atomic composition, and aligns with Common Core literacy standards for technical vocabulary acquisition in science.

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30 questions

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1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Silver

S
Si
Ag
Au

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Hydrogen

Hy
H
Hd
Fe

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Iron

I
Fe
F
Ir

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Sodium

Na
So
Sd
Fe

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Oxygen

Na
Ox
Oy
O

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Aluminum

A
Ox
Al
Fe

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the element symbol for: Gold

A
Fe
G
Au

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