Elements, Compounds and Mixtures Topic 2 - 1
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures Topic 2 - 1
ELEMENT:
Definition; Element is a pure chemical substance that cannot be split into simpler substance by chemical
means.
Elements are the building blocks from which many substances (compounds) are made. There are over 118
known elements of which most of them are natural and some are man made
Examples of elements include Hydrogen, Helium, lithium, Beryllium, potassium, sulphur, calcium,
Boron, Iron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Copper, Silver, Gold, Tin, Zinc, Manganese,
Magnesium, Lead etc
NAMES AND CHEMICAL SYMBOLS OF ELEMENTS
CHEMICAL SYMBOLS
Defn: A chemical symbol is representation of the name of element using letters.
OR
A chemical symbol is abbreviation or short representations of an element
The chemical symbols are normally derived from one or two letters of a Latin or English name.
If an element is represented by two letters the first one should be capital letter and the second should be
small letter. When an element is represented by one letter it should be in capital letter.
NB: Chemical symbols are written according to the rules of the International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
CRITERIA (RULES) FOR ASSIGNING CHEMICAL SYMBOLS
The following are the criteria used for assigning chemical symbols:
1. An element may be represented by a chemical symbol that is derived from the first letter of its English
name.
Examples of some elements with chemical symbols derived from the first letter of its English name are
shown in the table below.
NAME SYMBOL NAME SYMBOL
Hydrogen H Phosphorus P
Carbon C Iodine I
Nitrogen N Fluorine F
Oxygen O Vanadium V
Sulphur S Yttrium Y
Boron B
2.If different elements have the same first letter, for example carbon (C), calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co) and
copper (Cu) then only one element uses the first letter as its symbol, other elements use first letter plus
another letter in the name usually the second or third.
Chemical symbols of some elements with two letters from their English names are shown in the table
below
NAME SYMBOL NAME SYMBOL
Calcium Ca Neon Ne
Cobalt Co Aluminium Al
Chlorine Cl Argon Ar
Magnesium Mg Beryllium Be
Manganese Mn Lithium Li
Helium He Silicon Si
Zinc Zn
4. In some cases, the chemical symbols are derived from Latin names instead of the common English
names as shown in the table below
ELEMENT LATIN NAME SYMBOL
Sodium Natrium Na
Potassium Kalium K
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Silver Argentum Ag
Gold Aurum Au
Lead Plumbum Pb
Copper Cuprum Cu
Iron Ferrum Fe
Mercury Hydrargyrum Hg
Tin Stannum Sn
Antimony Stibium Sb
Tungsten Wolfram W
The table above shows position of metals and non-metals in the periodic table.
METALS
Defn: A metal is an element except hydrogen that will lose electron (s) to form positive charge.
Eg Sodium, potassium, lithium, Beryllium, boron, iron, copper, silver, gold, tin, calcium, zinc
, manganese, magnesium, lead etc
Metals are mostly found at the left-hand side and at the middle of the periodic table
NON-METALS
Defn: A non-metal is an element that will gain electron (s) to form negative charge.
Eg Oxygen, sulphur, hydrogen, carbon, silicon, chlorine, fluorine, phosphorous, nitrogen etc
Most of non-metals exists in gaseous state or liquid state with exception of few such as carbon
and sulphur which exist in solid state.
NB: Although hydrogen is located at the left-hand side of the periodic table, it is a non-metal
because it possesses the characteristics of non-metal.
Metals and non-metals differ in physical and chemical properties
DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BETWEEN METALS AND NON-METALS
METALS NON-METALS
1. Are good conductor of heat and electricity Poor conductors of electricity.
(they are insulators) except carbon, in the form of
graphite, which conducts electricity
2. Are good conductor of heat (this is why Are poor conductor of heat.
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cooking utensils are made up of metals such as
aluminium and iron)
2. Have high densities Have low densities
3. Have high melting points and boiling points They have low melting points and boiling points
4. Are strong and tough Are not strong and tough
5. Are ductile ie.they can be drawn into thin wires Are not ductile. They can not be drawn into thin wires
6. Are good conductor of sound. They are Are poor conductor of sound. They are not
Sonorous. (which means they make sounds Sonorous. (which means they do not make sounds
when hit.) when hit.))
7. Have high tensile strength Have low tensile strength
8. Are malleable (i.e can be made (hammered) Are not malleable
into thin sheets)
9. Are lustrous. They produce shining surface Are non – lustrous except a few such as diamond
when cut.
NB: There are exceptions to the above properties as follow
(i) Graphite is a non metal (Carbon) but it is a good conduct of heat and electricity
(ii) Diamond is non metal (Carbon) but has high melting and boiling point.
(iii) Some metals have different characteristics from those described above, eg sodium and
Potassium. These elements have low densities
(iv) All metals are solids at room temperature but mercury is in liquid state at room temperature.
EXERCISE
1. Give three examples of metals and non- metals, and explain their uses in daily life.
2. Why are cooking pots made of metals?
3. Describe properties of metals and explain how do they make metals useful in various
applications.
COMPOUNDS AND MIXTURES
COMPOUND
Defn. (i) A compound is a pure substance made up of two or more elements in a chemical combination.
OR (ii) A compound is a pure substance which consists of two or more elements which are chemically
combined together.
Examples of compounds are Common salts, water, sugar, carbon dioxide, petrol, diesel, alcohol, baking
powder etc.
When a compound is made up of two components is referred to as a binary compound. Examples of
binary compounds include common salt, carbon dioxide and water.
A binary compound is formed when two or more pure substance of the same or different types are
chemically combined together.
Table below shows examples of substances that combine to make binary compounds.
S/N FIRST PART SECOND PART COMPOUND
1 Sulphur Oxygen Sulphur dioxide
2 Sodium Chlorine Sodium chloride
3 Hydrogen Oxygen Water
4 Nitrogen Hydrogen Ammonia
5 Zinc Sulphur Zinc sulphide
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MIXTURE COMPOUND
1. The components in mixture can be separated The elements in compound cannot be separated by
by physical means physical means, (but can be separated by chemical
means)
2. The composition of mixture is variable The composition of compound is fixed
3. No chemical change occurs when mixtures are Chemical change occurs when compounds are formed
formed.
4. The properties of the mixture are those of The properties of the compound are very different from
individual components those of the individual elements.
5. Components in mixture can be seen separately Components in compound cannot be seen separately
6. No energy change occurs when it is formed. Energy change occurs when it is formed.
EXERCISE
1. You are provided with the following substances: Common salt, mud, juices, milk, water, soft drink,
kerosene, diesel and air. Classify the substances as either compounds or mixtures and give reasons for
your responses.
2. Provide examples of how elements, compounds and mixtures are used in every day life.
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NB: Saturation depends on temperature. As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of solvent
molecules increases and hence more solute particles dissolve.
APPLICATION OF SATURATION
Saturation is used when
(i) Separating certain mixtures in laboratory
(ii) Extracting some minerals such as extracting common salt from sea water.
(iii) Cooking and salting food
(iv) Using detergents during laundry
(v) Dissolving sugar in tea.
USES OF SOLVENTS
Solvents are used in homes, institutions such as schools and colleges, hotels and in industries.
The following are some of the uses of solvents
(i) Are used in cleaning (because they form a solution with the dirty (solute)
(ii) Are used in varnish removal
(iii) Are used in stain removal
(iv) Are used in bleaching
(v) Are used in thinning paints
(vi) Are used in degreasing
(2) SUSPENSION
Definition. A suspension is heterogeneous mixture of liquid (solvent) and fine particles of solid.
OR
A suspension is heterogeneous mixture in which the solid particles settle to the bottom on standing but
spread throughout when shaken.
In suspension the solute particles do not dissolve but get suspended in the liquid. For example, when you
add flour into water during cooking you have to keep on stirring, otherwise the flour will settle. This is an
example of suspension. Other examples of suspension include, Paints, porridge, muddy water, chalk
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powder in water, blood, sand particles suspended in water, some medicine written shake well before use
are suspensions.
Suspensions composed of either liquid droplets or fine solid particles suspended in a gas are called
Aerosols.
Suspensions are used in many aspects in our daily life and stored in containers labelled shake well before
use. Examples of these are medicines (Syrups), Body sprays, some paints, insecticides etc.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOLUTION AND SUSPENSION
SOLUTION SUSPENSION
1. It is homogeneous mixture It is heterogeneous mixture
2. It is transparent (clear) It is opaque (not clear)
3. Solute particles completely dissolved in solvent Solute particles settle if the suspension is undisturbed
4. Components are separated by evaporation Components can be separated by filtration.
(3) EMULSIONS
Definition: Emulsion is a mixture of liquids that do not completely mix with each other.
An emulsion is usually formed from two liquids, one water -based liquid and the other oil-base liquid.
When shaken the oily forms droplets suspended in the water- based liquid. The harder the emulsion is
shaken, the smaller the droplets, so the emulsion may appear to be a homogeneous solution
Example of emulsions are: Milk, which contains drops of butter fat in water
Emulsion paint, which contains is drops of coloured oils in water
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Separation Application of Decantation
(i) Water treatment systems (ii) Separate of components of blood
(2) FILTRATION
By definition: Filtration is the method of separate heterogeneous mixture of a solid
and liquid by using porous filter eg filter paper
Diagram to show separation of sand and water by filtration
(3) EVAPORATION
Defn: Evaporation is a method of separating a solute from a liquid solution through heating.
In evaporation solvent is converted from liquid to gas and solute remains as residue.
Example: Mixture of water (solvent) and salt (solute), when heated water evaporates leaving sand behind
as residue.
Diagram to show separation of salt and water by evaporation
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Other examples of mixtures which can be separated by evaporation are (i) sea water (ii) sugar solution
Separation Application of Evaporation
Evaporation is used in extraction of common salt from sea water
(4) DISTILLATION
Definition: Distillation is a process of separating the components of a mixture by heating a liquid to a
suitable temperature until it forms vapour (gas) and then cooling it back to liquid.
In distillation process cooling process is done in the lie big condenser. The liquid formed after cooling
the vapour is called distillate.
TYPES OF DISTILLATION
There are two types of distillation (i) Simple distillation (ii) Fractional distillation
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Definition: Fractional distillation is a method of separating homogeneous mixture of two or more liquids
which have different boiling points by means of a fractionating column.
A mixture of water and ethanol is a good example in which ethanol boils at 78oC and water boils at
100oC. Ethanol boils. at 78oC and is distilled first leaving behind water which will boil at 100oC.
Diagram to show separation of ethanol and water by fractional distillation
The fractionating column separates the two liquids, the one with a lower boiling point moves to the upper
part of the column and distils over. The liquid with the lower boiling point is collected first as a distillate.
Each component collected is known as a fraction.
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NYUMBU SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY F1 NOTES 2025 SIR ISIHAKA 0652372705
6. SUBLIMATION
MEANING: Sublimation is a process by which solid changes directly to gas on heating without passing
into liquid state.
Diagram to show separation of iodine and sand
NB: (i) Solid that forms after the vapour cools is called sublimate
(ii) This method is used to separate mixture where one component sublimes
(iii) Iodine and ammonium chloride are few compounds can sublime
(iv) The reverse process of change from vapour to solid on cooling is called Deposition
Sublimation can be used to
(i) Separate iodine from mixture of sand and iodine
(ii)Separate ammonium chloride from mixture of salt and ammonium chloride
Separation Application of Sublimation is in Purification of substance.
7. CHROMATOGRAPHY
Definition: Chromatography is the process of separating mixtures using a moving solvent on a material
that absorbs the solvent.
It is a method which is used to separate coloured mixtures.
In chromatography a mixture is firstly dissolved in a fluid called mobile phase. This fluid carries the
mixture through a stationary phase.
➢ The moving solvent is called mobile phase and may be a gas or liquid
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NYUMBU SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY F1 NOTES 2025 SIR ISIHAKA 0652372705
➢ The mobile phase flows through the stationary phase and caries the components of the
mixture with it
➢ The immobile substance is called stationary phase and is a material that absorbs solvent
which can be either solid or liquid supported on a solid.
➢ Substance separated is called Analyte
TYPES OF CHROMATOGRAPHY
There are three types
(i) Paper chromatography (ii) Thin layer chromatography (iii) Gas chromatography.
In paper chromatography, the stationary phase is a uniform absorbent paper. The mobile phase is a
suitable liquid solvent or mixture of solvent.
The components move with different speeds and thus get separated. The mixture of different colours is
separated by this method.
Example separation of black ink by paper chromatography method
Uses of chromatography
Chromatography is used in
(i) Medicine (ii) Security (iii) Chemistry (iv) In industries (v) In biology (vi) In health
In medicine
Used as follows
(i) Used in Studying blood cells (ii) Used in detecting types of drugs in blood
In security
Used as follows
(i) Used to analyses blood in crime scenes (ii) Used in detecting different fibres
(iii) Used in drug testing.
In chemistry
Used as follows
(i) Used in test purity or composition of organic substances (ii) Used in separates mixture
In industries
(i) Used in testing quality of products
(ii) Used in purification of substances
(iii) Used in testing shelf-life of food substances
In biology
Use as follows
(i) Used in protein analysis
(ii) Used in plasma analysis
(iii) Used in enzyme analysis
Health and environment
Used as follows
(i) Used in testing for water pollution, soil pollution and air pollution
(ii) Used in testing for food contamination
8. SOLVENT EXTRACTION
MEANING: Solvent extraction is a process of separating component of a mixture using a solvent that
dissolves selected component
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NYUMBU SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY F1 NOTES 2025 SIR ISIHAKA 0652372705
OR Solvent extraction is a method of separating one substance from one or more other
substances by using a solvent.
For example, extracting essential oils from plant seeds using a liquid that dissolves the oils.
NB: In solvent extraction, the following conditions should be considered when choosing a solvent.
(i) The chosen solvent should dissolve the component of interest
(ii) The solvent must not react with the component of interest
(iii) The solvent chosen should be easily separated from component of interest
(iv) It must not be toxic or corrosive
Separation Application of Solvent
(i) It is used to extract cooking oil from seeds or nuts eg oil from ground nuts, coconuts,
cotton seeds, sunflower etc
(ii) It is used to extract tea component from tea leaves using hot water during preparation
of tea.
9. MAGNETIZATION (MAGNETIC SEPARATION)
Meaning: Magnetization is a process of separating iron (magnetic material) from a mixture where by
magnetic material is attracted to magnet and leaves behind other components of mixture
This method is used to separate scrap iron from other metals. Eg a mixture of iron and sand, iron and
sulphur etc
Diagram to show separation of iron and sand and salt (common salt)
10. Winnowing
Definition: Winnowing is a method used to separate a mixture of two or more solids with different
densities.
This is mostly applied in purifying different grains to remove the unwanted materials.
Examples: (i) Maize and husks (ii) Rice and husks
11. Sieving
Sieving is a method used to separate materials based on their particle size.
It involves passing a mixture through a sieve, which is a mesh or perforated surface with openings of a
specific size. Eg a sieve for maize flour
11. CENTRIFUGATION
A centrifuge is used to separate small amounts of suspension. Centrifugation is used with insoluble solids
where the particles are very small and spread throughout the liquid. In centrifugation, test tubes
containing suspensions are spun round very fast. The solid gets thrown to the bottom. Here, a huge
centrifugal force acting on the particles due to the high speed spinning of the samples makes the particles
to settle at the bottom
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NYUMBU SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY F1 NOTES 2025 SIR ISIHAKA 0652372705
12. CRYSTALLIZATION
Crystallization is a process of separating a pure solid substance from a solution by warming / boiling a
solution in an open container. When allowed to cool the solid will be formed as crystals
This process involves evaporation but the speed of evaporation is much slower.
Defn. (1) Crystallization is a process of forming crystals from a super saturated solution when left to cool
(2) Crystallization point is a point at which crystals form.
Crystallization is used in sugar and salt industry to obtain sugar and salt crystals.
Eg a method is used to extract salt from the sea. Salty sea water is placed in wide basins and put in the
sun. Water evaporates off, leaving the salt crystals in basins
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