First 20 Elements Quiz: Test Names, Symbols, and Atomic Numbers
Quick elements 1-20 quiz with instant results and helpful review tips.
Editorial: Review CompletedUpdated Aug 26, 2025
This quiz helps you master the first 20 elements-names, symbols, and atomic numbers-and shows what to review with instant results. To go further, try the first 40 elements quiz or the first 36 elements quiz, or broaden your knowledge with a periodic table of elements quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Identify the names, symbols, and atomic numbers of the first twenty elements.
- Analyze periodic trends and patterns among the elements.
- Describe the physical and chemical properties characteristic of each element.
- Apply foundational knowledge to compare and contrast element behaviors.
- Evaluate areas of strength and improvement in understanding the periodic table fundamentals.
Periodic Table Quiz: First 20 Elements Cheat Sheet
- Memorize the First 20 Elements - Start by getting cozy with the symbols and atomic numbers of Hydrogen through Calcium. Use flashcards, songs, or a quick daily quiz to lock them into your long‑term memory.
- Use Mnemonic Devices - Turn that jumble of element names into a fun sentence you won't forget. Try "Hi He Lies Because Boring Chemistry Needs Our Full New Nation Might Also Sign Peace Security Clause A King Can" and watch the symbols stick!
- Understand Element Properties - Group metals, nonmetals, and metalloids by shared traits: conductivity, state at room temperature, and reactivity. Seeing patterns makes it way easier to predict how elements behave in real experiments.
- Learn Electron Configurations - Dive into the 1s² 2s² 2p² breakdown for Carbon and beyond. Knowing where electrons live helps you forecast bonding, valence electrons, and molecule shapes like a true chemistry whiz.
- Recognize Periodic Trends - Track how electronegativity, atomic radius, and ionization energy shift across periods and down groups. Spotting these trends lets you predict which elements will be energetic reaction partners.
- Practice Balancing Equations - Write out simple reactions like 2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl to master atom counting. Balancing equations keeps you sharp and shows real‑world connections between elements and compounds.
- Explore Real‑World Uses - From Helium in party balloons to Silicon in smartphones, every element has a quirky role in daily life. Investigating practical applications makes chemistry feel relevant and exciting.
- Grasp Biological Significance - Calcium builds strong bones, while Iron ferries oxygen in your blood. Linking elements to living systems transforms abstract facts into meaningful knowledge you'll actually remember.
- Study Historical Discoveries - Trace how Helium was spotted in solar spectra before Earth samples were found, or how early chemists named elements after gods and places. History adds a storytelling twist to memorization.
- Use Songs and Videos - Hook into catchy periodic table tunes and animated explainers. Multimedia resources turn memorizing 20+ elements into a sing‑along adventure rather than a chore.