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Quizzes > Science

Periodic Table Sections Quiz: Label the Parts

Quick, free groups and periods quiz with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Samuel ChauUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art periodic table with colorful element blocks arranged in puzzle style over a dark blue background

This quiz helps you label parts of the periodic table-groups, periods, blocks, and key series like transition metals. Practice identifying each section, get instant results, and spot where to review before a test. For extra study, try periodic table practice, build recall with the element symbol quiz, or refresh basics in the common elements quiz.

Which group on the periodic table contains the alkali metals?
Group 1
Group 18
Group 17
Group 2
The alkali metals are located in the first column, or Group 1, of the periodic table. These elements all have a single valence electron which makes them highly reactive, especially with water. They include lithium, sodium, potassium, and others.
Elements in the nitrogen group are found in which block of the periodic table?
f-block
p-block
s-block
d-block
Elements in the nitrogen group (Group 15) have their highest-energy electrons in the p orbital. The p-block spans groups 13 through 18 on the periodic table. Members of the nitrogen group include nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth.
The lanthanide series occupies which period of the periodic table?
Period 6
Period 7
Period 5
Period 8
The lanthanide series consists of fourteen elements with atomic numbers 57 through 71. These elements are located in period 6 of the periodic table, occupying the f-block. They begin with lanthanum and end with lutetium.
Which group number is assigned to the noble gases?
Group 18
Group 17
Group 8
Group 16
Noble gases occupy Group 18 of the periodic table, known for their full valence electron shells. This full shell configuration makes them extremely unreactive under standard conditions. Common noble gases include helium, neon, and argon.
What is the name of the first row in the f-block?
Lanthanides
Metalloids
Transition metals
Actinides
The f-block is comprised of two rows: the lanthanides and actinides. The first row in this block, immediately below the main table, is called the lanthanide series. These elements fill their 4f electron orbitals.
Elements in groups 3 through 12 are classified as what type of elements?
Alkali metals
Transition metals
Noble gases
Alkaline earth metals
Transition metals are defined as the elements occupying groups 3 through 12 on the periodic table. They are characterized by having partially filled d orbitals. These d electrons give rise to many of their common properties, such as multiple oxidation states and colored compounds.
Metalloids are typically located in which region of the periodic table?
In the s-block
Right of noble gases
Along the staircase line between metals and nonmetals
In the f-block
Metalloids possess properties intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals. They are located along the diagonal staircase line that divides the periodic table. This divide usually runs between boron and polonium.
The chalcogens belong to which group on the periodic table?
Group 17
Group 15
Group 16
Group 14
The chalcogens are the elements in Group 16 of the periodic table. This group includes oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. The name "chalcogen" comes from the Greek words for ore-forming, reflecting that many metal ores contain oxygen or sulfur.
How many elements are present in period 3 of the periodic table?
10 elements
8 elements
7 elements
6 elements
Period 3 spans from sodium (atomic number 11) to argon (atomic number 18). In total, there are eight distinct elements in this period. These range from highly reactive metals to a noble gas.
The p-block elements are characterized by having their highest-energy electrons in which orbital?
s-orbitals
p-orbitals
f-orbitals
d-orbitals
The p-block on the periodic table contains elements whose highest-energy electrons occupy p orbitals. This block includes metals, metalloids, and nonmetals. It spans groups 13 through 18.
Which characteristic is typical of alkaline earth metals?
One valence electron
Gas at room temperature
Two valence electrons
Full d orbitals
Alkaline earth metals, found in Group 2, consistently have two electrons in their outermost s orbital. This electron configuration is responsible for their characteristic reactivity. They are harder than alkali metals and react less vigorously with water.
The halogens are found in which group of the periodic table?
Group 17
Group 15
Group 16
Group 18
Halogens are the highly reactive nonmetal elements found in Group 17. Common halogens include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. They typically form salts when combined with metals.
Which of the following elements is NOT considered a transition metal?
Zinc (Zn)
Gallium (Ga)
Iron (Fe)
Copper (Cu)
Iron, copper, and zinc are classic transition metals occupying the d-block of the periodic table. Gallium, however, is located in group 13 of the p-block and is therefore not a transition metal. Transition metals are characterized by partially filled d orbitals.
The f-block elements collectively are known as what?
Lanthanides only
Inner transition metals
Transition metals
Metalloids
The term "inner transition metals" refers to the f-block elements, which include both the lanthanides and actinides. These elements fill their f orbitals, distinguishing them from the main d-block transition metals. They are typically displayed below the main body of the periodic table.
Which element marks the beginning of the actinide series?
Uranium (U)
Protactinium (Pa)
Actinium (Ac)
Thorium (Th)
Actinium (atomic number 89) is recognized as the first element of the actinide series. It begins the second f-block row, located below the lanthanides. All subsequent actinides follow actinium in the table.
Which element is the first in the p-block of the periodic table?
Aluminum
Boron
Hydrogen
Carbon
Boron, with atomic number 5, is the first element of the p-block. It follows the completion of helium's filled 1s shell and hydrogen's placement. Boron transitions the table from the s-block to the p-block.
Astatine is the heaviest naturally occurring element in which section of the periodic table?
Alkali metals
Alkaline earth metals
Halogens
Noble gases
Astatine is the heaviest naturally occurring halogen and is found in period 6. It completes the halogen group in this period before the jump to noble gases. Its properties remain largely theoretical due to its instability.
Which of these series of elements is also referred to as the inner transition metals?
Lanthanides and actinides
Halogens
Alkali metals
Noble gases
The inner transition metals are comprised of the lanthanide and actinide series. These are the two rows separated from the main table. They are called "inner" because their electrons fill inner f orbitals.
The boron group elements are located in which group?
Group 11
Group 14
Group 13
Group 12
The boron group elements belong to group 13 of the periodic table. This group includes boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, and thallium. They exhibit a mix of metallic and nonmetallic properties.
Which noble gas has the highest atomic number that occurs naturally on Earth?
Krypton
Neon
Argon
Radon
Radon (atomic number 86) is the heaviest noble gas that occurs naturally. It is produced by the radioactive decay of radium in the uranium decay series. Due to its radioactivity, it has a relatively short half-life.
Which characteristic is NOT typical of transition metals?
Variable oxidation states
Full valence shell at room temperature
High electrical conductivity
Formation of colored compounds
One characteristic that is not typical of transition metals is having a full valence shell at room temperature. Transition metals often have partially filled d orbitals, enabling variable oxidation states. This variability is a defining feature of the d-block elements.
In the periodic table, which block contains elements that are filling their d orbitals?
f-block
d-block
p-block
s-block
The elements filling their d orbitals are located in the d-block of the periodic table. This block runs from group 3 to group 12. These elements are known as the transition metals.
Which element is the first synthetic transuranic element in the actinide series?
Plutonium (Pu)
Uranium (U)
Neptunium (Np)
Protactinium (Pa)
Neptunium (atomic number 93) is the first synthetic transuranic element, created by bombarding uranium with neutrons. It marks the beginning of elements beyond uranium. Its discovery in 1940 opened the path for further transuranic synthesis.
The coinage metals in the periodic table are found in which group and what block?
Group 11, d-block
Group 10, d-block
Group 12, p-block
Group 13, p-block
The coinage metals - copper, silver, and gold - are all located in group 11 of the periodic table. They inhabit the d-block, filling the d subshell of their valence shells. Their historical use in coins gives them this name.
Which element ends the lanthanide series?
Hafnium (Hf)
Lutetium (Lu)
Tantalum (Ta)
Ytterbium (Yb)
Lutetium is the element with atomic number 71 and ends the lanthanide series. It directly precedes hafnium, which starts the d-block of period 6. This position makes it the last of the f-block lanthanides.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Periodic Table Sections -

    Identify and describe the s, p, d, and f blocks as well as the metallic, nonmetallic, and metalloid regions on the periodic table.

  2. Identify Parts of the Periodic Table -

    Recognize groups, periods, element symbols, and atomic numbers to navigate the structure of the periodic table of elements.

  3. Label Periodic Table with Sections -

    Accurately place element categories and chemical families on a blank periodic table chart using proper section labels.

  4. Differentiate Periodic Table Components -

    Distinguish between representative elements, transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides within the periodic table components.

  5. Analyze Element Trends -

    Interpret periodic trends like atomic radius, ionization energy, and electronegativity across different sections of the table.

  6. Apply Quiz Insights for Self-Assessment -

    Gauge your mastery of periodic table sections and pinpoint areas for further study based on quiz feedback.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Section classification: metals, nonmetals & metalloids -

    The periodic table sections are divided into metals on the left, nonmetals on the right, and metalloids forming a jagged staircase between them. Use the mnemonic "zig-zag line" or "zigzag for silicon" to remember metalloids' positions (e.g., B, Si, Ge, As). According to IUPAC, this layout highlights differences in conductivity, luster, and malleability.

  2. Group/family trends & naming -

    Each vertical column, or group, shares the same valence electron count, which dictates reactivity - alkali metals in Group 1 have a single electron in their outer shell (e.g., Li, Na). A popular way to spot group names is remembering Group 1 as alkali metals and Group 2 as alkaline earth, with Group 17 halogens and Group 18 noble gases - key for fast labelling the periodic table. MIT's Chemistry department notes that this grouping streamlines predicting element behavior in reactions.

  3. Periodic trends: atomic radius, ionization energy & electronegativity -

    Atomic radius increases down a group and decreases across a period, while ionization energy and electronegativity follow the opposite pattern, often summarized by the mnemonic "F right up" (Fluorine highest electronegativity, Francium largest atomic radius). Plotting these periodic table components on a graph reveals clear diagonal trends from bottom-left to top-right. Refer to University of California's charts for precise numerical values as you practice labelling the periodic table.

  4. s, p, d & f block classification -

    The periodic table with sections is also split into blocks based on which orbital electrons fill: the leftmost s-block (Groups 1 - 2), the p-block on the right (Groups 13 - 18), the d-block transition metals (Groups 3 - 12), and the f-block lanthanides and actinides. For example, calcium (Ca) is in the s-block, while iron (Fe) is in the d-block - using electron configurations like [Ar] 3d6 4s2 helps you map each element. University of California resources suggest color-coding these blocks on your periodic chart to speed up labelling the periodic table.

  5. Lanthanides & actinides: the f-block essentials -

    These elements (atomic numbers 57 - 71 for lanthanides and 89 - 103 for actinides) are tucked below the main table in the f-block and are vital in magnets (Nd) and nuclear fuel (U). To remember the first lanthanides, use "LaCePrNd" (Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium) as a seed phrase, then group the rest in quartets (e.g., Sm - Eu - Gd - Tb). The Royal Society of Chemistry's periodic table sections guide highlights their unique electron configurations, aiding in accurate labelling.

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