Classifying Matter: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

Mixtures
A combination of two or more pure substances

that are not chemically combined. substances held together by physical forces, not chemical No chemical change takes place Each item retains its properties in the mixture Can change in physical appearance, but do not change chemically (sugar disappearing when it dissolves) Chem4kids.com They can be separated physically

Types of Mixtures:
1. Heterogeneous- not the same throughout (not evenly mixed)
Particles are generally large enough to be seen

and separated from the mixture The particles may separate out when allowed to settle Examples of heterogeneous mixtures: concrete, a bag of jellybeans or M&Ms, salad, cereal and milk, chicken noodle soup

Types of Mixtures:
2. Homogeneous (well mixed)- looks the same throughout
Particles are too small to be seen and do not settle

when the mixture is allowed to stand Special types of Homogeneous mixtures:

Colloids- when the particles are mixed together, but do not

dissolve. Examples of colloids: milk, whipped cream, toothpaste, suntan lotion. Solutions- when the particles are mixed together and dissolve Examples of solutions: lemonade, iced tea, salt water, gatorade

Solutions:
Solutions are made up of two parts:
Solute: what is being dissolved

Solvent: the substance that does the dissolving (water is known as

the universal solvent because it can dissolve many things)

Soluble- when a substance can dissolve in another

substance
Example: Sugar is soluble in water

Insoluble- when a substance cant dissolve in another

substance
Example: Sand is insoluble in water

Solubility- how much solute can be dissolved in a given

amount of solvent at a specific temperature. Alloy- a solution made from metals

Single (Pure) Substances

A sample of matter that has definite chemical and

physical properties. The particles that make up the substance are all alike

Elements
pure substance that cannot be separated into

simpler substance by physical or chemical means. All elements are found on the periodic table. If it is not on the periodic table, it is not an element!

Elements
The particles that make up an element are called

atoms
Atoms: the smallest particle of an element that still

has all the properties of that element (it is the smallest form of the element that can still be called that element)
Example: an atom of gold is the smallest particle of gold

that we can still call gold

Chemical Symbols: shorthand way of

representing the elements

These are the symbols for the elements that we see

on the periodic table

If the symbol is only 1 letter, it is capitalized (Example:

Carbon is C)

Compounds
Pure substance Made up of two (or more) elements that are

chemically combined (bonded) The ratio of elements in a compound is always the same
This means it can be written by a chemical formula

Can only be separated by

chemical means, not physically

Example: water can be separated into hydrogen and

oxygen using electric energy Chemical reactions can also separate compounds

Compounds
The properties of a compound is completely

different than the elements that make up the compound

Example: Sodium (Na) is a highly reactive metal

and chlorine (Cl) is a poisonous gas, but when they are chemically combined they form sodium chloride (NaCl)also known as table salt
Compounds are made up of molecules.
Molecules are two or more atoms chemically

bonded together All molecules of a compound are identical to each other

Chemical Formulas
Chemical formulas are a shorthand way of

representing chemical substances. Most chemical formulas represent compounds, but every once and a while a formula can represent a molecule of an element
Example: on the periodic table oxygen is

symbolized as O, but in nature, oxygen exists as O2

When more than one type of atom exists in the

molecule, a subscript (small number on the lower right side of the symbol) is used to show how many atoms there are.

Chemical Equations
It is like a sentence that describes a chemical

process or chemical reaction

Example: Carbon and oxygen react to produce

carbon dioxide
Chemical Equation: C + O2 CO2

The chemical equations allows the same

information to be shown but in a shorter simpler way If there is more than one molecule of the element or compound in the equation, a coefficient (number in front of the symbol or formula) is used to show how many molecules there are
Example: 2H2 + O2 2H2O

Mixtures vs. Compounds

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/elements_com_mix_6.shtml

Can you identify the following?

You will be shown a series of photos. Tell if each photo represents an item composed of an element, compound, or mixture. Review: An element contains just one type of atom. A compound contains two or more different atoms joined together. A mixture contains two or more different substances that are only physically joined together, not chemically.
A mixture can contain both elements and

compounds.

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Rocks

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Rocks

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Copper

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Copper

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Jelly Beans

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Jelly Beans

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Table Sugar

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Table Sugar

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Diamond

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Diamond

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Tea

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Tea

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Salt

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Salt

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Neon Gas

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Neon Gas

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Salad

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Salad

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Pure Water

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Pure Water

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Aluminum

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Aluminum

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Lemonade

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Lemonade

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Silver

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Silver

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Sand

Element, Compound, or Mixture? Sand

Notes
Detailed notes are located at:

http://www.middleschoolscience.com/elementscompounds-mixtures-notes-isn.pdf
Flow Chart:

http://www.middleschoolscience.com/matter-flowchart-isn.pdf