03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

CLASSIFICATION OF SUBSTANCES

Matter

Pure
Mixture
Substance

Element + Element + Compound +

Element Compound
Element Compound Compound

Metal Non-metal

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Elements

 An element is a pure substance that cannot be split up into two or more simpler substances by
physical processes or by chemical processes.

 Elements are the building blocks of matter because the elements alone or in combinations make
up the entire universe such as the Sun, the Earth and all living and non-living things.

 Each element has a chemical symbol, which can be found in the periodic table.
o Chemical symbols consist of one capitalised letter or two-letter with the first letter being
capitalised.
o Most elements are metals and only 18 elements are non-metals.

 The atom is the smallest particle of an element that has the chemical properties of the element.
o All metals exist as atoms, also known as monatomic elements.

 A molecule is a group of two or more atoms that are chemically combined.

o Many non-metals exist as diatomic molecules. Commented [d1]: A pair of atoms forming a molecule.
E.g. H2, O2, Cl2
METALS VS NON- METALS: PROPERTIES
Property Metals Non-Metals
Melting and boiling points High Low
(except carbon)
(except Grp I (alkali) metals)
Physical state Solids at room temperature Either gases, volatile liquids, or solids
(except mercury) with low melting point at room
temperature.
Electrical conductivity Good conductor Poor conductor
(except graphite)
Thermal conductivity Good Conductor Poor conductor
(except diamond and graphite)
Appearance Shiny Dull
Density High density Low density
Malleability Malleable Not malleable, brittle if solid.
(can be hammered into different (easily broken when hammered)
shapes without breaking.)
Ductility Ductile Not ductile (Brittle)
(can be drawn into wires)

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Compounds

 A compound is a pure substance that contains two or more elements chemically combined in a
fixed ratio.

 A compound has different properties from the constituents. Commented [d2]: Constituents – Elements that form it.

 A compound has a fixed composition by mass. Hydrogen is a colourless gas

Oxygen is a colourless gas, which supports burning.
Water is a colourless liquid that does not burn.
o H2O is a compound formed by two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
Iron(II) Sulfide – Black, cannot be attracted by magnets, MP
o The ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atom in water is always 2:1. 1194, powdered iron(ii) ignites spontaneously in air.
Iron – Gray colour, Ductile and malleable. Can be attracted
o A water molecule contains 11.1% hydrogen and 88.9% oxygen by mass. by magnets, MP 1536, reacts with oxygen and water to form
rust.
 A compound can be presented by a chemical formula, which tells us Sulplhur – Yellow colour, melting point 112, reacts with
oxygen to form sulfur dioxide.
o The types of atoms present in the compound.
Commented [d3]: H2O = 2 + 16 = 18
o The ratio of different atoms present in the compound. H2 = 2/18 = 11.1%
0 = 16/18 = 88.9%
 Many compounds can be broken down via heating to form elements or compounds.
CH4 = 12 + (4x1) = 16
o This type of reaction is called thermal decomposition. C = 12/16 = 75%
H = 4/16 = 25%
o Upon heating, mercury (II) oxide is broken down into mercury and oxygen Commented [d4]: C6H12O6
Mg(NO3)2
fine droplets Commented [d5]: Another way of breaking down
of mercury compounds : electrolysis.

o Copper carbonate breaks down to form copper oxide and carbon dioxide upon heating.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Mixtures

 Mixtures are formed when two or more substances which are not chemically combined together. Commented [d6]: without chemical bonds being formed.

 The components of a mixture are not fixed by mass.

o They can be present in any proportion. Commented [d7]: Inhaled air VS Exhaled air
Inhaled: O2 – 21%, CO2 – 0.03%, Lesser H2O
o Each component retains its chemical and physical properties. Exhaled: O2 – 16%, CO2 – 4%, Greater H2O
Commented [d8]: When water is separated from sugar
o This is because there is no chemical change taken place during the formation of a mixture. solution, the melting point and boiling point remains at 0°C
and 100°C.
 Mixtures can exist as different combinations:

Commented [d9]: Doesn’t only have to be 2. It can be 2

or more.

Typical Qns: To identify ECM from the shapes, size and

colour (shading) of circles shown.

Mixture of 2 elements Mixture of 2 compounds Mixture of 1 element and 1

compound
 Some examples:

Mixture Example
Element + Element Alloys are mixtures of metals.
E.g. Brass – copper and zinc.
Compound + Compound Hydrochloric acid is a mixture of hydrogen chloride in water.
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) and water (H2O) are compounds.
Element + Compound Air is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Nitrogen and oxygen are elements while carbon dioxide is a compound.
A mixture can sometimes be converted into a compound.
o When a mixture of iron and sulfur is heated, iron (II) sulphide is obtained.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Compounds VS Mixtures

 There are numerous differences between compounds and mixtures, which are listed in the table
below.

Mixture Compound
Separation of Can be separated by physical methods. Can only be separated by chemical
components reactions or using electricity. Commented [d10]: E.g. thermal decomposition,
electrolysis
Composition The proportion of constituents can The constituents are in fixed proportion by
vary. mass.

Chemical Same as the chemical properties of the Physical and chemical properties are
properties constituents in the mixture. different from those of its constituents.

Melting and Vary according to the composition. Fixed melting and boiling points. Commented [d11]: Because they are pure.

boiling points
Energy No chemical change takes place when a A chemical reaction takes place when a
change mixture is formed. compound is formed.

There is usually little or no energy Usually, there is an energy change.

change. E.g. The reactants get hot or cold.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Solutions and Suspensions

SOLUTIONS
 It is a homogeneous mixture of a solute and a solvent.
o The solute and solvent are mixed evenly in every part of the solution.

 Solvent is the substance that dissolves another substance.

o Forms the bulk of a solution.

 Solute is the substance that is being dissolved by another substance.

Commented [d12]: Water is the solvent.

Salt is solute (less amount) and is being dissolved.
Salt and water particles are evenly mixed.

 Examples of solutions:

Type of mixture Examples

Solid – solid Alloys such as brass (copper mixed evenly with zinc)
Solid – liquid Salt solution (salt dissolved in water)
Liquid – liquid Alcoholic drinks (alcohol dissolve in water)
Gas – liquid Fizzy drinks (Carbon dioxide gas dissolved in water)
Gas – gas Air

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLUTIONS
 The characteristics of a solution from a mixture of solid – liquid:
1. No residue on the filter paper after filtration.
2. Clear and transparent which allows light to pass through
3. No substance sinks at bottom of a beaker after left standing

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
TYPES OF SOLUTIONS
A solution formed by a solid – liquid mixture can be classified into dilute, concentrated and saturated.

Type of solution Description

Dilute  It contains a small amount of solute dissolved in
a given amount of solvent.
Concentrated  It contains a relatively large amount of solute
dissolved in a given amount of solvent.
Saturated  It contains the maximum amount of solute that
can dissolve in a given amount of solvent.
 Additional solute will not be able to dissolve
anymore.
 Two ways to dissolve more solutes when the
solution has become saturated:
o Increase the temperature of the solvent
o Add more solvent.

RATE OF DISSOLVING
 Rate of dissolving refers to how fast a solute can dissolve in a fixed amount of solvent.

 The factors affecting the rate of dissolving are summarised in the following table.

Type of Change Effect on rate Reason

solution of dissolving
Temperature  Increase  Increase  When the temperature increases, the speeds of
 Decrease  Decrease the solute and solvent particles increase, so they
come into contact with each other faster.
Stirring Effect  Increase  Increase  When the mixture is stirred, the dissolved solute
 Decrease  Decrease particles are moved away to allow the solvent
particles to come into contact with the
undissolved particles.
Size  Increase  Decrease  When the size of the solute is smaller, it has a
 Decrease  Increase larger surface area for more solvent particles to
come into contact with it.
Amount of  Increase  Increase  The number of solvent particles increases, so
solvent  Decrease  Decrease more solvent particles come into contact with
the solute particles.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Solubility

 The solubility of a substance is the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in 100g of water
at a fixed temperature.

 The solubility depends on the following factors.

Factor Explanation/Example
Type of Solvent  Water is a more suitable solvent to dissolve salt
than oil.
Type of solute  If water is the solvent, sugar will dissolve better
than paint.
Temperature  Jelly powder dissolves better in hot water than in
cold water.

SOLUBILITY CURVE
 A solubility curve is a graph showing the maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve in
100g of water to form a saturated solution at certain temperatures.

 The graph is obtained by finding out the mass of solute needed to make a saturated solution in
100g of water for a particular temperature.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
HOW TO INTERPRET A SOLUBILITY GRAPH?
 It can also be used to deduce indirect information about:
o The amount of salt crystallised out from the solution during cooling.
o The amount of salt that can be dissolved at a particular temperature when the amount of
solvent varies.

DIRECT INFORMATION
Point Information What does it mean?
A The maximum mass of salt X When 25 g of salt X is added to 100 g of water at 0°C, only 20 g
that can dissolve in 100 g of of salt X is dissolved. 5 g of salt X will be left undissolved.
water at 0°C is 20 g.
B The maximum mass of salt X When the temperature increases from 0°C to 20°C, additional
that can dissolve in 100 g of amount of 10 g of salt X can be dissolved in 100 g of water.
water at 30°C is 30 g.
C The maximum mass of salt X When the temperature increases from 0°C to 60°C, additional
that can dissolve in 100 g of amount of 30g of salt X can be dissolved in 100 g of water.
water at 60°C is 50 g.

INDIRECT INFORMATION
Information Example
Amount of salt crystallised out from When the temperature decreases from 60°C to 0°C, 30 g of salt X
the solution during cooling. will be crystallised out from 100 g of water. Commented [RY13]: Working backwards
Amount of salt can be dissolved in At 0°C, the mass of salt X that can dissolve in 100 g of water is 20
different fixed amount of solvent at g. Therefore, at the same temperature, the mass of salt X that
a particular temperature. can dissolve in 50 g of water is 10 g. Commented [RY14]: Calculation questions

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
EXAMPLE

1. To make a saturated potassium nitrate solution in 100 cm3 of water of 55°C, a maximum of 60g of
potassium nitrate is needed.
2. If the temperature of 100 cm3 of water is increased to 70°C, then an additional amount of 20 g of
potassium nitrate is able to dissolve to form a saturated solution again.
3. When the saturated potassium nitrate solution is cooled from 70°C to 55°C, 20 g of potassium
nitrate will crystallise out in the solutions.
4. At 55°C, when the amount of water used is 50 cm3, the amount of potassium nitrate needed to
form a saturated solution is 30 g.
You can use proportion to determine the amount of solute needed to form a saturated solution in different
amount of solvent from a solubility graph and vice versa.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
SUSPENSIONS
 It is a heterogeneous mixture of solid-liquid.
o Heterogeneous mixture – The solute and the solvent are not evenly mixed.

 The solute does not dissolve in the solvent.

o Chalk powder with water.
o Sand placed in water.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSPENSIONS
1. There are particles settling at the bottom of the liquid after it is left standing for a while.
2. It scatters light as it does not allow light to pass through it.
a. This is because the solute particles are large enough to scatter light or block the passage of
light.
3. There are particles remaining on the filter paper as residue after filtration.
a. This is because the size of the solute particles is too large to pass the filter paper.
4. It appears cloudy because there are particles suspended in the solvent.

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03 Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
ECM

Elements, Compounds, Molecules:

https://youtu.be/4WR0_gEEZ9I

Mixtures (Solutions, Suspensions, Colloids)

https://youtu.be/Vt7lN4QPU0k

Summary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWfhB9q2GHc

Solubility Curves

https://youtu.be/7AZ2Z6_CQmA

Summary of KPT, ECM and Separation Tech

https://youtu.be/ASMnfoe1Q-g

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