we 6~Elements, Compounds and Mixtures4.1 Elements Learning Outcomes — You should be able ‘define an element: state the chemical symbols for a number of elements. Have you ever tried making caramel from sugar? You might have found out that if you heat sugar for too long, it turns into a black and bitter mess. This is because the sugar has broken down into carbon (the black solid) and water vapour (Figure 4.1). Carbon cannot be broken down further. It is an element ) Since sugar can be broken down, it is not an element. Water vapour is not ‘an element either, It can be braken down to give hydrogen and oxygen. cura Eat ocu Cane ure Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are elements. They cannot be broken down further into simpler substances. carbon can be broken down into can be broken down into. ‘carbon water vapour hydrogen ‘4 Figure 4.4. When sugar is heated, it breaks down into ‘carbon and water vapour. — _ onaen ‘4 Figure 4.2. Sugar and water can be broken down into simpler substances. Thus, they are not elements. Chemical Symbols of Elements Chemists use chemical symbols to represent elements. Each symbol may consist of one or two letters. Quite often, you can guess the symbol from the first two letters of the element’s name. Table 4.1 gives the names and symbols of some common elerients. For a ful list of elements, refer to the Periodic Table at the front of the book. ¥¥ Table 4.1. Names and symbols oF some common elements calcium ca mercury He carbon c neon Ne hydrogen silicon si a\= iron sodium Na .. aClassifying Elements Elements may be classified in several ways. Chemists often classify elements based on their + metallic and non-metallic properties — metals, non-metals, or metalloids (metalloids have both metallic and non-metallic properties); aroun erations in * physical states (at room temperature and pressure) — gases, liquids leila or solids Figure 4.3 shows the classification of elements by their metallic properties and physical states. —-£ o. helium (He) oxygen (0,) bromine (Br) silicon (Si) ‘carbon (C) sulfur (S) shiny (lustrous) + dull (nontustrous) | © Physical state at rtp. gases, volatile liquids or solids }-—© Melting and boiling points high + low (except for carbon and silicon) © Duetil brittle (easily broken when hammered) brittle if solid poor (except carbon in the form of graphite and diamond) ‘Electrical conductivity oor (except carbon in the form of graphite) “rp. stands for foom temperature and pressure. ‘A Figure 4.3 Classification of elements by their metallic properties and physical states, Elements, Compounds and MixturesAtoms and Molecules Elements can exist as atoms or molecules. What are atoms? eee eats ee uceir ac RUC Potent ue Each clement contains only one type sD of atom, Radon (Rn) Xenon (Xe) Krypton (Kr) Noble gases, such as helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon, are elements. A Fewedaiiinnene cencirs that exist as individual atoms. They are monatomic elements (Figure 4.4). What are molecules? Rr ae nt ee a atoms that are chemically combined ere @ Diatomic molecules are those that are tein (,) Chlorine (Ct) Oyen (0,) formed by the combination of two atoms (Figure 4.6). 4 Figure 4.8 Diatomic molecules Polyatomic molecules are those that contain three or more atoms (Figure 4.6). Suiltur ($3) Phosphorus (P,) ‘4 Figure 4.6 Polyatomic molecules From what you have 4. Anelement is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into two or learnt so far, have you ‘more simpler substances by chemical processes. found the answers to 2, Every element is represented by its chemical symbol. The symbol may Let's Explore (a)? Consist of one or two letters. 3. Anatom is the smallest particle of an element that has the chemical properties of the element. 4, Monatomic elements exist as individual atoms, 5. A molecule contains two or more atoms that are chemically combined Q ~~:neon atom Gara gon (a) Neon (Ne) eC ~ Nitrogen (N,) Hydrogen (H,) ‘ozone (0,) Table at the front of the book to fi (a) Magnesium and manganese (b) Sulfur and silicon (e) Zinc and tin ‘4 Advertsing lgnts contain neon gas, which consists entirely of neon atoms. * A hydrogen molecule contains ‘two hydrogen atoms that are chemically combined. It is diatomic, * The symbol ‘H,’ is used to represent a hydrogen molecule. The subscript '2” after the chemical symbol for hydrogen indicates that two hydrogen atoms are chemically ‘combined, ‘=H, is the molecular formula of hydrogen. * A molecule of ozone Is formed when three atoms of oxygen are chemically combined. Ozone is triatomic. * Ozone has the molecular formula 0. What are the chemical symbols for the following | 2. An element has a melting point of 120 pairs of elements? You may use the Periodic H, and 2H do not mean the same thing. H, represents ‘a molecule of hydrogen; 2H represents two atoms of hycrogen. ay yw Aydrogen Two hydrogen molecule (H,) atoms (2H) Thus H,, and not 2H, is, ‘the molecular formula of hycrogen. \Wny do some elements, such as helium, exist as Individual atoms? Why do the atoms of somo elements combine to form molecules? Find out in Chapters 6 end 7. and it is a non-conductor of electricity Ind out. Based on this information, prediet three ‘other properties of this element. 8. Give three reasons why pure copper is a {good choice for making electrical wires. cms meenamscome Q4.2 Compounds Learning Outcomes — You should be able t ‘© define @ compound; ‘describe the differences between elements and compounds; deduce the formula of a compound from the ratio of elements present. ee ee ny ly ‘4 Words have a fixed Spaira chedhé 2 For example, water (H,0) Is @ compound. Its made up of tw elements — fetore mi gue'sdiforent ‘hydrogen and oxygen. Only two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom can word altogether. Simiaty, make a water molecule. The ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms in coneouies peered water is always 2 : 1 (Figure 4.7). Changing this ratio will give a different ony one element ina compound. For example, adding one more oxygen atom gives a ratio of ompound, or changing 22 and the compound hydrogen peroxide (H,0,). the ratio of the elements wil give a different compound altogetner. 1H), Two atoms of —> wv H) hydrogen (element) u !Y is made up of baat ‘Water (compound) One atom of (>| ‘oxygen (element) ‘A Figure 4.7. The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in water is always 2 = 1. Composition of a Compound A compound may be made up of molecules or another type of particles called fons. lons are electrically charged particles. An ion carries either positive or negative charge(s). You will Jearn more ~ about ions in Chapter 6, Water is a compound Sodium chloride is a compound ‘made up of water made up of positive sodium ions, molecules. and negative chloride ions. | Ton: @D® ov oF) ~ _ water molecule 44 Figure 4.8(a) Water is ‘4 Figure 4.8(b) Sodium made up of molecules. Chloride is made up of ions,Properties of a Compound Does a compound have the same properties as the elements that form it? A compound has different properties from the elements that form it (its constituent elements). For example, magnesium burns in oxygen to form ‘a compound called magnesium oxide (Figure 4.9). Magnesium oxide has properties different from magnesium and oxygen. magnesium + oxygen —» magnesium oxide (silvery solid) (colourless gas) (white sorid) Names of Compounds Table 4.2 shows a list of some compounds and the elements they contain, Notice that each compound has a chemical name indicating the elements it contains. '¥ Table 4.2. Some compounds and the elements they contain sodium chloride sodium, chlorine os carbon dioxide carbon, oxygen zinc, oxygen zine oxide calcium carbonate (marble) calcium, carbon, oxygen copper) sulfate copper, sulfur, oxygen hydrogen chloride hydrogen, chlorine Chemical Formula of a Compound ‘A compound can be represented by a chemical formula. The chemical formula of a compound is written by putting together the chemical symbols of the elements that make up the compound, The chemical formula tells us ‘ the types of atoms (i.e. elements) present in the compound; ‘= the ratio of the different atoms present in the compound. Look at the chemical formula of water in Figure 4.40. 4 Figure 4.9 When ‘magnesium metal burns inair, awhite solé called magnesium oxide is formed ‘he symbois tellus that | 9 ¥ re rowmarcone” | EC) atoms are present in the compound. The subscript ‘2’ tells us that there are two hydrogen atoms in one Water molecule. Thus, + ‘the ratio of hydrogen to onygen is 2: 1 ‘4 Figure 4.10 Chemical formula of water You will earn more about the general rules for naming compounds ‘and writing the chemical formulae of compounds in Chapter 6. a .,