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For example, suppose a student called out the non-existent square 3s 3. Once students learn how to play, they often problem-solve themselves through mistakes without teacher intervention. Usually, one student picks it up quicker than their partner and, in turn, explains it to others. When playing the game, students seem to naturally work together to learn the trend. After a few rounds of the game, students are more apt to see the periodic table in terms of energy levels and subshells which helps them learn periodic trends more quickly. I tend to use this activity after students have learned how to write electron configurations before learning about periodic trends. As you may discover, students tend to catch on quickly to the fact that the first number of this notation corresponds to the row of the periodic table or, in other words, the principle energy level - a practical realization. In the same fashion, the squares of the alkali metals from top to bottom are 2s 1 (Li), 3s 1 (Na), 4s 1(K), 5s 1 (Rb), 6s 1 (Cs), and 7s 1 (Fr). For example, Magnesium's (Mg) square is called by simply stating 3s 2 rather than the complete electron configuration of 1s 22s 22p 63s 2. The gameplay in Periodic Table Battleship is essentially the same however, the squares of the periodic table are identified by the last subshell notation in the electron configuration of the corresponding element. One way that students can discover these trends is through a game called Electron Configuration Battleship. It's possible to explain the trend using a diagram like that in figure 1 however, a deeper understanding may be possible when students discover it independently. In my experience, novice students struggle to see elements' valence electron configuration trends across the rows and columns on the periodic table. Of particular interest is a knowledge of the arrangement of the outermost electrons, identified by an element's electron configuration, which is vital when predicting the products of chemical reactions, and the formation of bonds. In fact, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) reserves two of the eight performance expectations of the Chemistry division for the periodic table. Chemical properties, bonding, and reactions are routinely explained using the trends and patterns of the periodic table. A proficient understanding of the periodic table is indispensable for students studying chemistry.
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