Periodic Table Worksheet: Free Printable PDF + Answer Key

A periodic table worksheet is a structured chemistry practice sheet that trains students to locate and interpret element data — atomic number, symbol, name, atomic mass, period, and group — directly from the periodic table. It is the standard first-assessment tool in middle and high school chemistry, targeting grades 6 through 10.

If you have ever stared at a periodic table and felt overwhelmed by the grid of numbers and letters, you are not alone. In my experience teaching chemistry fundamentals, the periodic table looks complicated until a student understands that each tile follows one consistent layout. Once you see that pattern, the whole table opens up.

• Understand the four pieces of data on every element tile
• Locate any element by its period and group
• Calculate the number of neutrons from the periodic table alone
• Classify elements as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids
• Complete the 10-problem worksheet and self-check with the answer key

What Is the Periodic Table and Why Does It Matter?

The periodic table is a systematic arrangement of all known chemical elements, ordered by increasing atomic number and grouped by similar chemical properties. It is the single most important reference tool in chemistry — every formula, reaction, and property prediction starts here.

Dmitri Mendeleev published the first widely recognized version in 1869. He arranged elements by atomic mass and noticed that properties repeated in a predictable pattern — what chemists call “periodicity.” The modern table, ordered by atomic number, was established in the early 20th century and has been extended to 118 elements since.

For a student, the periodic table matters for one practical reason: it gives you the data you need to answer chemistry questions without memorizing every element. You just need to know how to read it.

How to Read an Element Tile on the Periodic Table

Reading an element tile correctly is the core skill this worksheet tests. Every tile follows the same layout: atomic number at the top, chemical symbol in the center, element name below the symbol, and atomic mass at the bottom.

  ┌─────────────────────┐
  │   6                 │  ← Atomic Number (protons)
  │                     │
  │        C            │  ← Chemical Symbol
  │                     │
  │      Carbon         │  ← Element Name
  │                     │
  │     12.011          │  ← Atomic Mass (amu)
  └─────────────────────┘

  Period 2  |  Group 14 (IVA)  |  Nonmetal
  

1. Find the atomic number. The whole number at the top of the tile. It equals the number of protons in the nucleus. Carbon has 6 protons, so its atomic number is 6. No two elements share an atomic number.
2. Read the chemical symbol. The one- or two-letter abbreviation in the center. The first letter is always a capital; the second (if present) is always lowercase. Carbon = C. Calcium = Ca. Chlorine = Cl.
3. Note the element name. The full English name below the symbol. Some symbols look nothing like the name (Na = Sodium, Fe = Iron) because they come from Latin roots.
4. Record the atomic mass. The decimal number at the bottom, in atomic mass units (amu). This is a weighted average of all naturally occurring isotopes. Round it to the nearest whole number to get the mass number for neutron calculations.
5. Identify the period and group. Count the row from the top — that is the period. Count the column from the left — that is the group. Carbon is in Period 2, Group 14. Period tells you the number of electron shells; group tells you the number of valence electrons (for main-group elements).

Worked Examples: Solving Periodic Table Problems

These three worked examples match the style and difficulty of the worksheet problems below. Read through each one before you attempt the practice sheet.

Common Mistakes Students Make on Periodic Table Worksheets

These are the four errors I see most often when marking periodic table worksheets. Knowing them in advance saves points.

On-Page Periodic Table Worksheet (10 Problems)

Use a periodic table to answer each question below. Problems progress from basic recall (Q1-4) to applied thinking (Q7-10). Print this page or download the PDF for a clean copy.

How to use this worksheet: Work through all 10 questions with a periodic table open beside you. Write your answers on paper. When you finish, expand the Answer Key below to check your work. For the PDF version with a clean printable layout and a separate answer-key page, use the download button.

1. What is the chemical symbol for Gold?
2. What is the atomic number of Carbon?
3. Which element has the symbol “Na” and what is its atomic mass (rounded to the nearest whole number)?
4. How many protons does an atom of Oxygen have?
5. Name the element in Period 2, Group 17 (VIIA).
6. Which element has atomic number 26? State its symbol and classify it as metal, nonmetal, or metalloid.
7. List the elements in Group 1 (IA) from Period 2 through Period 5 — give the name and symbol for each.
8. An element has 17 protons and its mass number is 35. How many neutrons does it have? Name the element.
9. Arrange these elements in order of increasing atomic number: Neon, Helium, Argon, Krypton. What pattern do you notice about their group?
10. Element X is in Period 3, Group 14 (IVA). It is a metalloid widely used in computer chips. Identify it and give its atomic number and atomic mass.