Periodic table quiz for kids

Element symbols

In the game, questions about chemical symbols start in the quiz for 12 year olds, the first year of secondary school. Younger players are asked what the elements are and what they are used for.

1. True or false: U is the symbol for iodine.

   ShowHide answer to question 1

   False. Iodine is I. Iodine is a purple-black solid. Warm it and it gives off a violet vapour, which is how it got its name.

2. What is the chemical symbol for helium?

   • S
   • He
   • Ca
   • F
   ShowHide answer to question 2

   He. Helium was spotted in sunlight before anyone found it on Earth. Its name comes from helios, Greek for Sun.

3. What is the chemical symbol for sulfur?

   • C
   • S
   • P
   • Al
   ShowHide answer to question 3

   S. Sulfur is a yellow element found around volcanoes. In old stories it was called brimstone.

4. Which element has the symbol O?

   • Oxygen
   • Hydrogen
   • Argon
   • Nickel
   ShowHide answer to question 4

   Oxygen. Oxygen is the most common element in Earth's crust. Most of it is locked up in rocks and sand.

5. Name the element with the symbol Mg.

   ShowHide answer to question 5

   Magnesium. Magnesium burns with a dazzling white light, which is why it is used in flares and fireworks.

6. Name the element with the symbol Li.

   ShowHide answer to question 6

   Lithium. Lithium is the lightest metal of all. It powers the rechargeable batteries in most phones.

7. What is the chemical symbol for beryllium?

   ShowHide answer to question 7

   Be. Beryllium is named after the gemstone beryl. Emeralds are a green kind of beryl.

8. Which element has the symbol Br?

   • Bromine
   • Platinum
   • Beryllium
   • Boron
   ShowHide answer to question 8

   Bromine. Bromine is a red-brown liquid with a nasty smell. Its name comes from the Greek for stench.

9. What is the chemical symbol for iron?

   • I
   • Sn
   • Fe
   • F
   ShowHide answer to question 9

   Fe. Steel is mostly iron, and so is Earth's core. Fe comes from the Latin ferrum.

10. Which element has the symbol Au?

    • Gold
    • Uranium
    • Aluminium
    • Silver
    ShowHide answer to question 10

    Gold. Gold never rusts or tarnishes, so ancient gold treasure still gleams. Au comes from the Latin aurum.

11. Which element was once known by the Latin name hydrargyrum?

    • Magnesium
    • Silver
    • Mercury
    • Hydrogen
    ShowHide answer to question 11

    Mercury. Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Hg comes from hydrargyrum, meaning watery silver.

12. Which element was once known by the Latin name stannum?

    • Sulfur
    • Tin
    • Zinc
    • Silicon
    ShowHide answer to question 12

    Tin. Bend a bar of tin and it makes a faint crackling sound called the tin cry. Sn comes from the Latin stannum.

Solids, liquids, gases and what elements are used for

13. True or false: Hydrogen is a liquid at room temperature (about 20 °C).

    ShowHide answer to question 13

    False. Hydrogen is a gas. Hydrogen is the lightest element and the most common one in the universe. Stars are mostly made of it.

14. True or false: Lead is a non-metal.

    ShowHide answer to question 14

    False. Lead is a metal. Romans made water pipes from lead, and plumbers are named after it. Pb comes from the Latin plumbum.

15. True or false: Nitrogen is a gas at room temperature (about 20 °C).

    ShowHide answer to question 15

    True. Nitrogen is a gas. About four fifths of every breath you take is nitrogen. Your body breathes it straight back out.

16. Bananas are famous for being rich in which element?

    • Iodine
    • Iron
    • Potassium
    • Sodium
    ShowHide answer to question 16

    Potassium. Bananas are very slightly radioactive, because a tiny part of their potassium is naturally radioactive. They are totally safe to eat.

17. Which element helps make your bones and teeth hard?

    • Iron
    • Calcium
    • Neon
    • Sodium
    ShowHide answer to question 17

    Calcium. Milk, cheese, yoghurt and green vegetables like kale are all good sources of calcium.

18. Diamonds are made of which element?

    • Silicon
    • Carbon
    • Sulfur
    • Gold
    ShowHide answer to question 18

    Carbon. A diamond is carbon with its atoms locked in an incredibly strong pattern.

19. Which strong, light metal is used in jet engines and replacement hips?

    • Lead
    • Titanium
    • Copper
    • Tin
    ShowHide answer to question 19

    Titanium. The human body accepts titanium well, so it is used for replacement hips and knees.

20. True or false: Nickel is attracted to magnets.

    ShowHide answer to question 20

    True. Nickel is one of the few metals a magnet pulls on, along with iron and cobalt.

21. At room temperature (about 20 °C), is fluorine a solid, a liquid or a gas?

    • Solid
    • Liquid
    • Gas
    ShowHide answer to question 21

    Gas. Fluorine is a fiercely reactive pale yellow gas. Fluoride, a far less reactive form of it, helps protect your teeth.

22. At room temperature (about 20 °C), is chlorine a solid, a liquid or a gas?

    • Solid
    • Liquid
    • Gas
    ShowHide answer to question 22

    Gas. Chlorine is a yellow-green gas. A tiny amount in swimming pools kills germs.

Atomic numbers

23. Silicon is element 14, and phosphorus comes next. What number is phosphorus?

    ShowHide answer to question 23

    15. Phosphorus is element 15, so every phosphorus atom has 15 protons.

24. What is the atomic number of neon?

    ShowHide answer to question 24

    10. Neon is element 10, so every neon atom has 10 protons.

25. What is the atomic number of boron?

    ShowHide answer to question 25

    5. Boron is element 5, so every boron atom has 5 protons.