U4D3 Castle Mendeleev

You and your friends have suddenly materialized into a room made entirely of a shiny metallic solid. A wooden door is set into one wall. A shimmering holograph appears before you. It is an old man with long brown hair and a full beard streaked with gray hairs. Wearing a full-length 19th century topcoat is Dmitri Mendeleev himself.

In a crisp, intelligent voice the scientist says, “This room has been constructed of a strong, lightweight, corrosion resistant metal composed of atoms containing 3 valence electrons and 13 protons. It is the 3rd most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. What element is this room made of? Carve its symbol into the wooden door to escape to the next room.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

The next room you find yourselves in is made of a clear gas. Suddenly, Mendeleev appears saying, “This element is a non-metal, diatomic gas (two atoms of the same Element in one molecule). It is necessary for all living things. It combines with most other elements to form oxides and it gets thinner as you go up in the atmosphere.”

What symbol will you carve into the door of this room?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Next, you and your friends are transported to a room made from a green-yellow gas that immediately begins to burn your nostrils and your throat.

You reach into your packs for gas masks to protect yourselves from these noxious (poisonous) fumes. You realize that this gas, when combined with sodium, makes a good flavoring for meat and french fries.

For the third time a holograph of Mendeleev speaks to you and through the shifting gas says, “This diatomic gas is a halogen.” What element surrounds you?

In the next room, you find yourselves surrounded by bright yellow crystals.

As you remove the gas masks, you smell rotten eggs. The old chemist, tinted yellow by the light reflecting off of the crystals, appears yet again. “The atoms of this element have 6 valence electrons and an average atomic mass of 32.066 amu.”

Carve the symbol of the correct element in the room’s door.

You are now in a room made of a clear gas, located in one of the towers of Castle Mendeleev.

The atoms of this gas have an oxidation number of 0. Trying to talk to your friends, your voice sounds high-pitched and squeaky, like Mickey Mouse.

The holograph tells you, “The atoms of this element are not only extremely stable, they have the lowest mass in their family.”

What element is this room made up of?

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-1

The sixth room you are transported to is on the second floor of the castle and it is composed of a silver-gray metallic solid.

Taking a knife out of your backpack, you are able to cut a piece of it off because the substance is very soft. A portion of the element touches your hand, burning your skin. Filling a small glass beaker with water from your canteen, you drop the substance in to observe its reaction with water. It momentarily floats on the water before causing a small explosion.

This element has 5 neutrons (on average) and has an oxidation number of +2.

What element is this? 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Next, you are transported to a room with bright white, waxy walls. When you turn off the lights, the entire room glows in the dark!

The holograph tells you, “This element is an important nutrient in plants. It is also used in some water softeners and detergents. This element has an oxidation number of –3 and it has 16 neutrons (on average).

What element is this room made of?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

You are now in a room made of shiny, silver metal. The image of Mendeleev reappears to say, “This element appears here in its pure form. If combined with traces of other elements, it becomes a semiconductor that is used in circuits of electronic devices such as calculators.

It and oxygen are the two elements that make sand but not diamonds. The neutrons and protons of this element add up to about 28.”

What element is he speaking of?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

The ninth room is composed of a gas that has no color, taste, or odor. A transparent image of the chemist tells you, “An atom of this element has 2 electrons in its first shell and 5 electrons in its second shell. This element makes up approximately 80% of normal air and can be used to make laughing gas.” What element is it?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

The next room you are transported to is made of a soft white material. The 19th century chemist states, “This element will have an intense reaction in water and you could have an explosion. This room is on the second floor (Period 2 on the periodic table) of my castle and is made of an alkali metal.” Which element is it?