Science 7

Observations - Any information collected by the senses. There are two types of observations,
quantitaive and qualitative.

Quantative Observation - Measurable or Countable. Example: 3 meters long, 4 marbles, 50 kilograms,

35 degrees Celsius.
Qualitative Observation - describable not measurable. Example: red flowers, smells like fresh baked
cookies, tastes bitter.

Inference - Conclusions or deductions based on observations.

- The process of drawing a conclusions from given evidence.
Example: I hear people screaming, I smell cotton candy, popcorn and hamburgers, I see a lot of people.

Science Process Skills

-Science is more than a collection of facts.
-Learning the process skills is a preparation for becoming a scientist
-Process skills are the tools of scientists to know about the world to “know” about the world.
Science Process Skills
1. Observing
2. Classifying
3. Measuring
4. Communicating
5. Inferring
6. Predicting

Observing - Using the five senses to gather information about objects such as their characteristics,
properties, similarities and differences.
Measurement - Comparing an unknown amount with a known unit to determine the length, weight,
temperature, quantity, or capacity of an object or event.

Measurement tools:
Length - linear measurement base unit: meter
Volume - capacity base unit: liter
Weight - mass base unit: gram
Temperature - hot/cold base unit: Celsius

Communicating - Using written or spoken words, graphs, tables, diagrams, models, and video
recordings to share information and ideas with others.
Classification - Grouping or ordering objects or events into categories based on similarities,
differences, and interelationships.
Inference - Explaining, making interpretations, or drawing conclusions about a specific event based on
observations and data.
Predicting - Forming an idea of an expected result not a guess but a belief of what will occur based on
present knowledge, observations, and inferences.

Scientific Method - The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a
natural occurrence.
Steps in Scientific Method
1. Identifying the problems: Develop a Question or problem that can be solved through
experimentation.
2. Observation/Research: Make observations and research your topic of interest. Look for information
in books, on the internet, and by talking with teachers to get the most information you can before
experimenting.
3. Formulating a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer to the problem or question.
4. Performing an Experiment: Develop and follow a procedure, Include a detailed material list, The
outcome must be measurable (quantifable)
5. Gathering of Data: Recording of the observation before, during and after the experiment. Making a
clean and organized record and making an inferences for data analysis.
6. Analyzing Data: Modify the procedure if needed, Confirm the results by retesting, Include tables
graphs, and photographs if needed.
7. Generalization/Conclusion: Include a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis.
8. Sharing the Result: Be prepared to share your results with an audience, Expect questions from the
audience.

Elements
-An element is the simplest form of matter made of one kind of atom.
-It has two different properties: Physical and Chemical
-You cannot change it into another form of matter by ordinary means.
-Elements are considered as the building blocks of matter because all forms of matter are made up of
elements.

Classifications of Elements.
1. Metals -Good conductors of heat and electricity.
-Most metals are hard, shiny solids.
-They are malleable so they can be stretched and shaped
-Most metals reflect light
2. Non metals -Poor conductors of electricity.
-Most non-metals are gasses at room temperature, others are solid.
-Solid non-metals are usually dull, brittle, and powdery.
-They are neither malleable nor ductile.
3. Metalloids - Semi-conductors of heat and electricity.
- Have both properties of metals and non-metals
-Metalloids are shiny solids, but they are not as shiny as metals.

Elements and Compounds

Element- Is the simplest form of matter that has a unique set of properties.
Compound- A compound is a substance that contains two or more elements chemically combined in a
fixed proportion.

Key difference between elements and compounds: Compounds can be broken down into simpler
substances by chemical means.

Breaking down compounds

-Physical methods that are used to separate mixtures cannot be used to break a compound into
simpler substances
-a chemical change is a change that produces matter with a different composition than the original
matter
-There is no chemical process that will break down carbon into simpler substances because carbon
is an element.

Properties of a compound
-In general, the properties of compounds are quite different from those of their component
elements.
-Hydrogen is a gas that burns in the presence of oxygen a colorless gas that supports burning.
-The product of this chemical change is water, a liquid that can stop materials from burning.

Properties of Compound
-When the elements sodium and chlorine combine chemically to form sodium chloride, there is a
change in composition and a change in properties.
Classification of a Compound
-Organic Compounds
-Always contain carbon and hydrogen bonds.
-Compared with other constituents that make up that Earths Crust, the organic compounds make up a
small percentage of it.
-Nonetheless, they are of vital importance because all living things are based on these compounds.
-Examples of organic compounds are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

Inorganic Compounds
-Does not contain carbon and hydrogen bonds
-Most elements are inorganic but technically are not since they are comprised of one type of atom.
-Thus, the classification of inorganic compounds entails groupings of substances comprised of more
than one type of atom.
-Conversely, simple inorganic substances (not necessarily compounds) are typified as either metal or
non-metal.
-However there are no clear distinction between metals and non-metals.
Covalent Compound
-Compound that is made up of molecules.
-Covalent compounds or molecular compounds are chemical compounds made of elements connected
by covalent bounds
-Covalent bonds only form between nonmetallic elements because these elements have the same or
similar electronegativity values.

Ionic Compound
-Is a combination of positive and negative ions.
-Elements in Ionic compound do not exist as atoms but as ions
-Ions are the charged particles that are formed when atoms loss or gain electrons.
Pure Substance and Mixtures

What is a pure substance ?

-Pure substances are substances that are made up of only one kind of particles and has a fixed or
constant structure.

Elements- Made of only one atom. The particles can be a single atom or a molecule made of only one
kind of atom. There is no physical change that can separate an element into one kind of a substance.
This makes an element a pure substance and the simplest form of a substance.

Compounds- Made of only one kind of molecule is made up of two or more kinds of atoms. There is
no physical change that can separate the compounds into more than one kind of substance. This
makes a compound a pure substance.

Mixtures- Mixtures are physical combinations of pure substances that have no definite or constant
composition - the composition of a mixture varies according to who prepares the mixture. Although
chemists have a difficult time separating compounds into their specific elements, the different parts
of a mixture can be easily separated by physical means, such as filtration.

Physical Properties - Physical properties are used to identify, describe and classify matter.
Characteristic of a substance than can be observed (using your senses) without changing the substance
into something else. Size, shape, freezing point, boiling point, melting point, magnetism, viscosity,
density, luster and many more.

Viscosity - The resistance of a liquid to flowing.

Chemical Properties - Chemical properties are characteristics involved when a substance interacts with
another substance to change its chemical make up
Solutions, Suspensions and Colloids

Mixtures
-Mixtures can be physically separated by using methods that use differences in physical properties to
separate the components of the mixture such as evaporation, distillation, filtration, and
chromatography.

Three Sub - Types of Mixtures

Solution
-Solution is a homogenous mixture of two or more substances in relative amounts that can be
varied continuously up to what is called the limit of solubility. The term solution is commonly applied
to the liquid state of matter, but solutions of gasses and solid are possible.

Suspension
-A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture containing large particles that will settle on standing.
The particles may be visible to the naked eye, usually must be larger than one micrometer, and will
eventually settle, although the mixture is only classified as a suspension when and while the particles
have not settled out.

Colloids
-Colloids are homogenous mixtures where the particles are small enough that they stay suspended.
A colloid is a mixture of two or more substances mixed together but not chemically combined (they
can be separated). They are a particular type of mixture where tiny particles of one substance are
scattered through another substance. Cream is a colloid as it’s made up of tiny particles of fat
dispersed in water.

Methods of Mixture Separation

1. Mechanical Separation - (often by hand) takes advantage of physical properties such as color and
shape.
2. Magnetic Separation - Takes advantage of the physical property of magnetism.
3. Filtration - Takes advantage of the physical property of state of matter. A screen lets the liquid
particles through, but traps the solid particle.
4. Decanting - To pour off a liquid, leaving another liquid or solid solid behind. Takes advantage of
differences in density.
5. Distillation - The separation of a mixture of liquids based on the physical property “boiling point”
6. Evaporation - Vaporizing a liquid and leaving the dissolved solid(s) behind. Used to separate salt
solutions.
7. Density Separation - More dense components sink to the bottom and less dense components
cannot be soluble within each other.
8. Centrifuge - Circular motion helps denser components sink to the bottom faster.
9. Paperchromatography - Uses the property of the molecular attraction (molecular polarity) to
separate a mixture. Different molecules have varying molecular attractions for the paper (the
stationary phase) vs. The solvent (the mobile phase)
10. Fractional Crystallization - Dissolved substances crystallize out of a solution once their solubility
limit is reached as the solution cools.