Development of the periodic table
I can describe the development of the periodic table and explain its current form.
Development of the periodic table
I can describe the development of the periodic table and explain its current form.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Dalton (1803) arranged known elements in order of atomic weights.
- Newlands (1865) noticed that every eighth element, in order of atomic mass, repeated similar properties.
- Mendeleev swapped the order of atomic weights in order to fit elements better into groups of similar properties.
- Mendeleev’s periodic table had gaps and he predicted missing elements that were later found.
- Mendeleev was not aware of isotopes, so was unable to explain why the ordering by atomic weight was not always correct.
Keywords
Isotope - An atom of an element with the same number of protons, but different mass numbers due to different numbers of neutrons.
Atomic weight - The historical name for atomic mass, i.e. the ratio of the mass of an atom compared to a standard.
Relative atomic mass - The mean mass of an atom compared to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon–12 atom.
Dmitri Mendeleev - A scientist who devised the periodic table of elements.
Common misconception
Pupils often believe that the when the periodic table was devised, scientists knew about the subatomic particles.
Emphasise when the subatomic particles were discovered in comparison to when Mendeleev devised his periodic table.
To help you plan your year 10 combined science lesson on: Development of the periodic table, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 combined science lesson on: Development of the periodic table, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 combined science lessons from the Atomic structure and the periodic table unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
It is useful for students to have a copy of the periodic table.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
vertical column in the periodic table
horizontal row in the periodic table
period 2
Group 1
period 3
Group 7
11 protons, 11 electrons and 12 neutrons
33 protons, 33 electrons and 42 neutrons
Group 2 and period 4
period 6 and Group 2
period 3 and Group 4
Group 0 and period 3
Exit quiz
6 Questions
only some similar elements were grouped together e.g. Li, Na and K
assumed all elements had been discovered
dissimilar elements were grouped together e.g. O, S and Fe
needed to double up elements to fit the repeating pattern