Activity 1

1. Each number on the Periodic Table of the Elements represents something. The number in the upper left represents the atomic number which puts the elements in order. The number in the upper right is the atomic weight which is the mass of an atom expressed in atomic mass units.
2. The letters are abbreviations for each element. For example, Mg represents Magnesium.
3. There are many differences between Na and K. K stands for potassium. The atomic weight is 39.098. Most potassium minerals are insoluble and the metal is obtained from them with difficulty. Potassium is found in the ocean, but present is small amounts. Na stands for Sodium and the atomic weight is 22.98977. Unlike Potassium, Sodium is present in fair abundance in the sun and stars. Sodium is the fourth most abundant element on earth. So one of the main differences between Na and K is the availability.

Reference used: http://periodic.lanl.gov/default.htm