WINTERVELDT PLC TSHWANE WEST DISTRICT

GRADE 8

NATURAL SCIENCES
MID-YEAR TEST
TIME : 2 hours EXAMINER: Winterveldt Educators
MARKS : 80 MODERATOR: Malebye P
DISTRICT: TSHWANE WEST D15 CLUSTER : Winterveldt
DATE: 6 JUNE 2024 CLASS: 8________
NAME OF LEARNER:
__________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS:
● This question paper serves as an answer sheet and consists of 15 PAGES.
● This question paper consists of TWO SECTIONS, A and B.
● Read instructions carefully and answer all questions accordingly
● Allocation of marks SECTION A: 22 AND SECTION B:58
● YOU ARE ADVISED TO USE THE DATA SHEET ATTACHED ON PAGE 14 and
WORKING SHEET ON PAGE 15.
● Write neatly and legibly only in blue ink and use a pencil to draw.
● You have 10 minutes allowance time to read before starting to write.
● Diagrams are not necessarily drawn to scale
● CONTENT COVERED: TERM 2 (MATTER AND MATERIAL)

QUESTIONS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 TOTAL

ALLOCATED 22 13 4 9 19 8 5 80
MARKS
LEARNER’S
MARK

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SECTION A
QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
1.1. Different options are given as answers, choose the correct one
by CIRCLING the LETTER of the CORRECT answer.
1.1.1. Atoms consist of …

A. elements and compounds.

B. neutrons, electrons and compounds.
C. protons, electrons and neutrons.
D. elements, compounds, neutrons, electrons and protons.
1.1.2 The following particles are found in the nucleus of an atom:

A. Neutrons and electrons.

B. Neutrons, elements and electrons.
C. Protons and neutrons
D. Protons, electrons and neutrons.
1.1.3. The melting point of element X is 25°C. The boiling point of the
same element is 70°C. At 30°C the element is a …
A solid.
B liquid.
C gas.
D vapour.
1.1.4 In which one of the following substances will the distances
between the particles inside the substance be the greatest? All
substances shown have the same volume.

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1.1.5 What is the name given to horizontal rows on the periodic table
A. Families
B. Groups.
C. Periods
D. Atoms

1.1.6 The reactants in a chemical reaction are …

A. all the substances that appear in the solid phase.

B. the new substances that are formed.
C. all the substances that are involved.
D. all the substances that react with each other.
1.1.7 Which one of the following symbols represents hydrogen?
A. Hg
B. He
C. Hy
D. H
1.1.8 Protons and neutrons are responsible for the ... of an atom.
A. mass
B. volume
C. density
D. size
1.1.9 Which one of the following is NOT an example of a compound?
A. H2O
B. O2
C. CuCl2
D. CO2

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1.1.10 If an atom has 12 protons in the nucleus, then it must also have
…….. to be neutral.
A. 12 protons around the nucleus
B. 12 neutrons in the nucleus
C. 12 electrons around the nucleus
D. 12 electrons in the nucleus

[10x1]
1.2 Give a SCIENTIFIC WORD/TERM for each of the following
statements. Write only the word/term next to the question
number.

1.2.1 A sub-atomic particle with a positive charge.

________________________________________________________
1.2.2 The spontaneous spreading of particles from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration.
________________________________________________________
1.2.3 The amount of mass per unit volume.
________________________________________________________
1.2.4 A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances
by chemical methods
________________________________________________________
1.2.5 matter that can flow and does not have a specific shape.
________________________________________________________
1.2.6 General name for sub-atomic particles inside the nucleus of an
atom
_______________________________________________________
1.2.7 The change in phase from a liquid state to a solid state.
_______________________________________________________

[7x1]

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1.3. MATCH the TERM in COLUMN A with the description in COLUMN

B. write the possible answer in COLUMN C

COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C

1.3.1. Electron A. Chemical formula for
table salt
1.3.2. Atom B. Negatively charged
sub-atomic particle
1.3.3. Neutron C. Positively charged
sub-atomic particle
1.3.4. Molecule D. Sub-atomic particle
that has no charge
1.3.5. NaCl E. Two or more atoms
chemically bonded
F. Smallest building
block of matter

. (5x1)
TOTALSECTION A = 22

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SECTION B
QUESTION 2: Model of an Atom and the Periodic table

Study the model of an atom below

2.1 How many electrons are there in this atom? (1)

__________________________________________________________________
2.2 Explain why this atom is electrically neutral. (2)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2.3 In which group and period is this element found on the Periodic Table? (2)
__________________________________________________________________
2.4 Give the name and the symbol of this element. (2)
__________________________________________________________________

2.5 Choose the correct representation for this element. Only write down the letter of
the correct answer (A, B, C or D). (1)

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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2.6 Use the Periodic Table of elements provided to write down the NAME of an
element that:

2.6.1 is a non-metal in Group 1.

___________________________________________________________ (1)
2.6.2 is represented symbol Na
______________________________________ ___________________ (1)
2.6.3 has six protons in the nucleus of one atom.
___________________________________________________________ (1)
2.6.4 is a noble gas in period 2.
___________________________________________________________ (1)
2.6.5 is in Group 2, Period 3.
__________________________________________________________ _ (1)
[13]

QUESTION 3: ATOMS, MOLECULES AND COMPOUNDS

3.1. Different types of substances are represented in the diagrams below.

Answer the questions that follow:

Write down the LETTER of the diagram which best represents:

3.1 An element that consists of single atoms.

____________________________________________________________ (1)
3.2 An element that consists of diatomic molecules.
____________________________________________________________ (1)
3.3 A compound.
___________________________________________________________ (1)
3.4 A mixture of elements.
____________________________________________________________ (1)
[4]

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QUESTION 4: INVESTIGATION
Lungile and Themba are smart grade 8 learners. They set up an
investigation to find out how fast liquids mix. They used the following
materials and method.
Materials and Apparatus used
• Food colouring
• 3 droppers
• 3 beakers labelled A, B and C
o beaker A - filled with 50 ml ice water,
o beaker B - filled with 50 ml tap water at room temperature
and
o beaker C - filled with 50 ml hot water.
• Stop watch
Method:
• Place one drop of food colouring simultaneously in each of the three beakers,
filled with:
• Measure the time it takes for the food colouring to completely mix with the water
• Draw a table to record results.

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Lungile and Themba completed the investigation and obtained the results below:

4 1.1 Write down the….

a) Aim of the investigation (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
b) Safety precautions (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4.1.2 Describe what happens when the drop of food colouring enters the water
. (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4 1.3 What property of liquids does the observation above illustrate? (1)
_________________________________________________________________
4.1.4 What conclusion can be drawn from Lungile and Themba’s results? (2)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. 1.5 Why is it important to use the same amount of liquid in each of the three
beakers? (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4.1.6 Mention any two ways in which Lungile and Themba can do to ensure the
reliability of their results. (2)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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QUESTION 5: PARTICLE MODEL OF MATTER

Consider the three phases of matter illustrated in the diagram below.

5.1 Describe in detail the arrangement and behaviour of particles in a gas (4)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5.2 When you walk past a bakery, you can smell the fresh bread that is being
baked. This is possible due to the diffusion of gases.
Explain what diffusion is. (2)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5.3.1 How does diffusion that take place in liquids compare to diffusion in gases ?
. (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5.3.2 Explain why it is NOT possible for diffusion to take place in solids. (2)

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

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5.4 CHANGE OF STATE OF MATTER (10X1)

Study the picture below and answer the questions that follows.

.
5.4.1 When ice is heated, it ____________________ to form water.
5.4.2 when water is ____________________ it ___________________ to form
water vapour.
5.4.3. When water vapour cools, it _______________________ to form water.
5.4.4 When water ______________ it __________________ to form ice.
5.4.5 We can make change of state by _________________ or
___________________ the matter.
5.4.6 When we cool a solid, liquid or gas it ____________________ because its
particles move closer together.

5.4.7. when we heat a solid, liquid or gas it ____________________ because its

particles move further apart.

[19]

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QUESTION 6: DENSITY AND PRESSURE

6.1 When sand and ice are added to a glass of water, the sand sinks to the
bottom of the glass while the ice floats on the water as shown below.

6.1.1 Write down a definition for density. (2)

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

6.1.2 Write down the three substances (water, sand and ice) in order of
INCREASING density. (3)
___________________________________________________________________
6.2 Study the following diagram. An empty paint tin with its lid on, is full of air.
When more air is pumped into the tin, the lid pops off at some stage.

6.2.1 Explain why the lid pops off when more air is pumped into the tin. (3)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

. [8]

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QUESTION 7: PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION

7.1 The following structure below demonstrate investigation done by grade

Eights. A metal ball is passed through a ring. It is then heated for more than
five minutes as shown and passed through the ring for the second time.

7.1.1 What is the aim of this investigation? (1)

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7.1.2 Discuss why the metal ball could not go through the ring (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7.1.3 Discuss what will happen once the metal ball is cooled down to its initial
temperature. (1)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7.1.4 When a material expands, the spaces between its particles
(increase / decrease) but the size and the number of particles are not affected.(1)

7.1.5 Explain what happens to the spaces between the particles of a material if
the material is heated. (1)
____________________________________________________________

TOTAL SECTION B : 58
GRAND TOTAL :80

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WORKING SHEET:

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