Chemical Elements and Compounds Symbol Match-Up Activity

Looking for a more active way to practice matching chemical symbols and formulas with their corresponding elements and compounds? Then this is the resource for you!

This printable resource is designed to help your students identify and memorize the chemical symbols and formulas that coincide with some of Earth’s most common elements and compounds. It includes 15 matched sets of chemical symbols and formulas (for a total of 30 cards), along with an answer key to make the activity self-checking.

To prepare this resource, print out the cards on cardstock and cut them out along the dotted lines. Store in a resealable bag to be used again and again, year after year. If you choose, a periodic table has been included in the download for your students to reference.

Ways to Use This Chemical Elements Matching Game in Your Classroom:

• For an individual activity, have your students match the elements and compounds with their corresponding chemical symbols and formulas. It makes for a great Science station activity in your classroom.
• For a partner or group activity, have your students play a game of “Memory”. Place the cards face down in the middle of the playing area. Player 1 flips over two cards. If they match, the player keeps the cards. If they do not match, the player turns them both face down in their original location. Play continues until there are no more cards in the playing area. The player with the most cards wins!
• For a whole-class activity, use the cards as a Scoot game! Pull out one card from each match and hang these cards around the room. Have your students rotate through the cards, individually or with a partner, writing down the element/compound or chemical symbol/formula (depending on which card they are looking at) on their recording sheet.

Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter Collaborator.

Looking for More Periodic Table Activities?

Need more? Make sure you check out this printable activity to familiarize your students with the periodic table and its elements.

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