Questions-Composition: The Chemical Classification of Matter

Why is it important for chemists to classify matter by putting it into different categories?
-In order to make sense of the tremendous amount of information that we can learn about matter,
chemists have developed categories of kinds of matter in which to organize the information.

Chemists classify by state (solid, liquid, gas) but what is meant by “composition”?
-Chemical composition refers to the identity and relative number of the chemical elements that
make up any particular compound.

What are the 2 major categories that chemists classify all matter?
-Matter is classified into two broad categories: pure substances and mixtures.

Define pure substance.

-A material that has a constant composition and has consistent properties throughout the sample.

Name + describe the 2 types of pure substances.

-There are two types of pure substances that are Elements and Compounds. A pure substance that
has only one kind of atom and cannot be broken into two or more simpler substances by physical
or chemical means is an element. A pure substance, basically composed of two or more elements
and chemically combined in a fixed proportion is called a compound.

Give 2 examples for each.

-Element~Iron and silver.
Compound~Water and methane.

Why do you think “elements” can not be broken down into simpler substances?
-Any substance that contains only one kind of an atom is known as an element. Elements are
already in their simplest form.

Although elements and compounds are both Pure Substances. Name 2 very clear differences
between them.
-An element is a substance that contains only ONE type of atom, whereas a compound is a pure
substance that contains 2 or more elements that are chemically combined.

Define mixture.
-Mixtures are physical combinations of pure substances that have no definite or constant
composition.

Name and describe 2 main types of mixtures.

-Mixtures can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous: A homogeneous mixture is a solid,
liquid, or gaseous mixture that has the same proportions of its components throughout any given
sample. A heterogeneous mixture is simply any mixture that is not uniform in composition.

Colloids, mechanical mixtures and suspensions are “Heterogeneous Mixtures”. What is the
difference between these 3 types of heterogeneous mixtures + give 2 examples.
-Mechanical mixtures and suspensions particles are big enough to see, whereas colloids particles
can not be seen with the naked eye. Mechanical mixtures and suspensions settle out, whereas
colloids do not settle out.

Homogeneous mixtures “look” pure. Why aren’t they?

-All pure substances are said to be homogeneous but not all homogeneous mixtures are pure. A
pure substance is made up of a single element or compound and has a definite composition.
Homogeneous mixtures are made up of uniform compositions of a variety of compounds, but can
be separated into individual components upon physical separation processes.

Give 3 examples.
-Homogeneous mixtures include: corn oil, sugar water, and pure water.