The Tale of King Octavious
Scene I:
Narrator:
Once upon a time, in the far away land of Mendeleevia, there was a powerful king named Octavious Argonion. The king was a fair and just man who believed very strongly that all people in his kingdom deserved an equal chance to be successful.
One day, he decided to address his people to inform them of a new law in Mendeleevia.
King:
Welcome people of Mendeleevia! I have gathered you all today to announce that I have created a new law.
Crowd:
Oooohhh………
King:
As you know the nobility of Mendeleevia have always become noble by birth. I do not agree with this tradition because I believe that all people should have the opportunity to become like nobles.
Crowd:
Yeah!
King:
Therefore, I have created a law named the Law of Octet. This law states that if you are not born a noble, then you must have 8 rare coins in order to become a noble.
Crowd:
How do we get it?
King:
There are three ways to gather the 8 rare coins that you need to become a noble. First, you may arrange marriages for your children so that they will have a combined wealth of 8 rare coins. Second, you may join forces with members of your own family and share your wealth if you have a combined total of 8 coins. Last, you may join forces with members of other families in order to acquire your 8 rare coins. However, if you choose to combine your wealth with another family or you if your children marry into another family to become a noble, you must stay together to keep your status as a noble.
Crowd:
Oooohhh…
King:
I thank you for your attention. You are dismissed.
Crowd:
Yay!! (Cheers)
Scene II:
Narrator:
The crowd was excited to hear that ANYONE in Mendeleevia could become a noble just by having 8 rare coins. Among the citizens, there were three families that were already making plans to become Noble. They were the Halogens, the Alkalis and the Alkalines. Now let us go to the home of Sir Brominius Halogen where we will meet him his daughter Chlorinna and his step-daughter Oxyanna. Oxyanna’s mother was a member of the oxygen family before she married Sir Halogen.
Sir Halogen:
Chlorinna! Oxyanna! Come here!
(Enter Chlorinna and Oxyanna)
Girls:
Yes Father?
Sir Halogen:
Girls, according to the Law of Octet we have the ability to become noble. I must marry you both to knights who have enough of the rare coins so that we’ll have a combined wealth of 8 rare coins. Chlorinna, as my daughter, I offer to your future husband, all that I have. I will offer him my seven rare coins. I have chosen Sir Sodium of the house of Alkalis for you. He is a poor knight with only one rare coin, but that is all we need. He is a good match for you.
Chlorinna:
Yes father. When we marry, we will have 8 rare coins and we shall be known as Sir and Lady Salt.
Father:
Fantastic! Now, Oxyanna, as my step-daughter, I have only the wealth of your mother’s family to offer for you. You will have six rare coins to contribute to your union. For you, I have chosen Sir Beryllium of the Alkalines who has two rare coins to add to your six. It is a good match.
Oxyanna:
Father, I understand that you would like for me to become a noble, but I do not want an arranged marriage. I do not know this Sir Beryllium, and I do not want to marry him.
Father:
Well Oxyanna, you MUST become a noble. If you do not marry Sir Beryllium and accept his two rare coins, then how do you plan to gain two coins to reach 8 rare coins?
Oxyanna:
Well father, I have two friends who are twin sisters. Their names are Hydra and Genna. They are the daughters of the Alkalis and each have one rare coin. We would like permission to move into our own castle and be roommates. The three of us combined would have the eight rare coins. What do you say Father?
Father:
Well Oxyanna, I think this a good plan. You have my permission. What will you name your castle?
Oxyanna:
We shall name it the Water Castle of Mendeleevia.
Father:
Wonderful! We must go to the king for approval!
Scene III:
Narrator:
So Sir Halogen, his daughter Chlorinna and Sir Sodium, as well as Oxyanna and her friends Hydra and Genna traveled to the royal castle. They met the king to explain their solutions.
King:
Well Sir Halogen, I believe that you have satisfied the Law of Octet. Sir Sodium and Lady Chlorinna- together you have 8 rare coins. I pronounce you Sir and Lady Salt. Hydra and Genna and Oxyanna, you may become roommates and together you will have eight coins and satisfy the Law of Octet. I approve the construction of your castle, and it will be called the Water Castle of Mendeleevia.
Narrator:
So Sir Halogen arranged a happy marriage between his daughter and Sir Sodium and helped Oxyanna and her friends move into their castle of water. They all satisfied the Law of Octet and lived happily ever after.
The End
Discussion Questions from the Play
1. What family are Sir Halogen and Chlorinna from?
2. How many rare coins does Sir Halogen offer for Chlorinna?
3. What family does Oxyanna’s mother come from?
4. How many rare coins does Oxyanna have?
5. What family did Sir Sodium belong to?
6. Why was he a good match for Chlorinna?
7. What family did Sir Beryllium belong to?
8. Why was he a good match for Oxyanna?
9. If Oxyanna wanted to move in with only one of the Hydrogen sisters, would the king have approved it? Explain your answer.
10. What is the Law of Octet?
11. What do the rare coins represent?
Use your periodic table to connect the character in the play with your knowledge of science and the periodic table.
Character / Element / Family/Group / Valence ElectronsKing Octavious
Sir Halogen
Chlorinna
Oxyanna
Sir Sodium
Sir Beryllium
Hydra
Genna
12. What is the law of octet as it applies to the periodic table?
13. Are there certain groups on the periodic table that will combine easier than others? Which ones and Why?