HS-PS1-1 | Periodic Table · NYS standard · Regents questions
Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
Clarification statement: Examples of properties that could be predicted from patterns could include reactivity of metals, types of bonds formed, numbers of bonds formed, and reactions with oxygen.
Assessment boundary: Assessment is limited to main group elements. Assessment does not include quantitative understanding of ionization energy beyond relative trends.
Reference Tables
Relevant reference tables:
- Periodic Table of the Elements
- Mathematical and Computational Models – Coulombic force (qualitative)
Regents Exam Questions
Released New York State Regents exam questions that assess HS-PS1-1 are listed here by exam and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
Vocabulary
Terms from the Chemistry Glossary that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it.
- atom
- atomic scale
- atomic structure
- attraction
- bond
- chemical property
- component (of a system)
- contact force
- electric charge
- electron
- electron state
- element
- energy level
- evidence
- group (of the periodic table)
- ionization
- ionization energy
- main-group element
- matter
- metal
- neutron
- nucleus
- outermost energy level
- period (of the periodic table)
- periodic table
- phenomenon
- properties
- proton
- quantitative
- reaction with oxygen
- reactivity
- relative property
- repulsion
- system
- transformation
- trend
- atomic mass – Aug 2026
- atomic radius – Aug 2026, June 2026
- band gap energy – Aug 2026
- claim – Aug 2026
- compound – Aug 2026, June 2026
- conduction band – Aug 2026
- conductivity – Aug 2026
- conductor – Aug 2026
- covalent bond – Sample 2025
- crystal – Aug 2026
- crystal lattice – Aug 2026
- decomposition – June 2026
- double bond – Sample 2025
- electrical conductivity – Aug 2026
- electrical force – June 2026
- energy – Aug 2026
- first ionization energy – Aug 2026
- gas – Aug 2026, Sample 2025
- insulator – Aug 2026, Sample 2025
- ion – Sample 2025
- mixture – Aug 2026
- molecule – Sample 2025
- nonpolar covalent bond – Sample 2025
- outermost electrons – Aug 2026, June 2026
- oxide – Sample 2025
- physical property – June 2026
- polar covalent bond – Sample 2025
- polymer – June 2026
- semiconductor – Aug 2026
- single bond – Sample 2025
- valence band – Aug 2026
- valence electron – June 2026
- valence shell – Aug 2026
- atomic number – implied by "orders elements horizontally by the number of protons in the atom's nucleus"
- electron configuration – implied by "patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms"
- ionic bond – implied by "types of bonds formed"
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Regents exam question on HS-PS1-1 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS1-1.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-PS1-1 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Developing and Using Models
- Use a model to predict the relationships between systems or between components of a system.
- PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
- Each atom has a charged substructure consisting of a nucleus, which is made of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.
- The periodic table orders elements horizontally by the number of protons in the atom’s nucleus and places those with similar chemical properties in columns. The repeating patterns of this table reflect patterns of outer electron states.
- PS2.B: Types of Interactions
- Attraction and repulsion between electric charges at the atomic scale explain the structure, properties, and transformations of matter, as well as the contact forces between material objects. (secondary to HS-PS1-1)
- Patterns
- Different patterns may be observed at each of the scales at which a system is studied and can provide evidence for causality in explanations of phenomena.