Matter & Materials: Classification of Matter
Matter & Materials: Classification of Matter
MATTER &
MATERIALS:
Classification of Matter
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MATTER & MATERIALS
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER
A substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition and distinct properties;
Eg: water, sugar, table salt (NaCℓ), silver (Ag), oxygen (O2)
Substances are identified by their smell, taste and appearance etc… These are their
macroscopic properties.
MATTER
MIXTURES Separation by PHYSICAL METHODS PURE SUBSTANCES
HOMOGENEOUS COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
HETEROGENEOUS Separation by
MIXTURES CHEMICAL METHODS
ELEMENTS
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MIXTURES
A mixture is a combination of two or more substances in which the substances retain
their own properties.
A mixture’s composition does not remain constant. Eg: Air samples in CT; Dbn and Jhb differ in
composition due to differences in altitude, pollution etc...
Mixtures are not pure and can be separated by physical methods into their pure components,
without changing the properties of the substances.
Eg: Salt can be recovered from a water solution by heating the solution
and allowing the water to evaporate.
A magnet can be used to separate the mixture of iron and sand,
because sand is not attracted to the magnet.
HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURES
A homogeneous mixture is a mixture in which the composition is the same throughout.
A homogeneous mixture is also called a solution. The solution is always clear, although it may
be coloured.
Solute: the component that dissolves in the solvent. (The little bit of stuff!)
Solvent: the component that represents the largest amount. (The very BIG amount of stuff!)
Any substances that mix completely to form a homogeneous mixture are said to be miscible
and can only be separated by fractional distillation (boiling the substances off at their different
boiling points).
Diagram 1: Shows distillation of a homogeneous mixture (eg: alcohol & water) in a school
laboratory using a Liebig Condenser. Alcohol would be the first distillate as it has a lower boiling
point than water.
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Diagram 1:
Diagram 2:
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Examples of homogeneous mixtures / solutions are:
HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURES
A heterogeneous mixture is a mixture in which the composition is not constant / uniform.
Any combination of substances that do not dissolve in each other can form a heterogeneous
mixture.
Any two liquids that will not mix are immiscible and they may be separated using a separating
funnel.
Sand is insoluble in water and if mixed with water it will form a slurry or suspension.
The solid particles are dispersed in the liquid and will eventually settle out if left to stand.
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Emulsions as heterogeneous mixtures:
Cooking oil and water are immiscible due to their different intermolecular forces. Oil and
water may be separated using a separating funnel. The more dense liquid will pass
through the funnel first.
When oil and water are vigorously mixed together they form a cloudy mixture that
appears to be in one phase. This is called an emulsion.
Examples of emulsions are: salad dressing; mayonnaise; milk; paint and skin care
products.
An emulsifier is added to stop an emulsion from separating into layers.
Milk is homogenised to prevent the cream from forming a layer on top of the milk.
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PURE SUBSTANCES
A mixture of iron filings and sulphur powder can be separated (by physical means) in two ways:
However, if the iron filings and sulphur powder are heated in a test tube over a bunsen burner,
a chemical reaction takes place. A new substance, iron sulphide (FeS) forms, that has different
properties than the original components. Fe + S → FeS
Mixtures are comprised of pure substances in varying combinations, eg: the amount of
sulphur powder and iron filings may vary in the mixture, BUT
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ELEMENTS
are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by
chemical methods.
are the most basic substances from which all material things are constructed
The periodic table is a table of over 100 elements, each represented by their symbols. In 1869 a
Russian chemist, Dimitri Mendeleev, drew up the first version of the Periodic Table. A periodic
table is given on page 6. Only the names of the elements which you are required to know, are
given. The names of the other elements may be learnt as general knowledge.
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I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2
H He
hydrogen helium
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Aℓ Si P S Cℓ Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulphur chlorine argon
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
palladium silver tin tellurium iodine
55 56 57 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tℓ Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium tungsten platinum gold mercury lead polonium astatine
87 88 89
Fr Ra Ac
francium radium
58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
thorium uranium plutonium
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COMPOUNDS
are pure substances that are made up of two or more elements that have chemically
combined in fixed ratios / proportions.
can only be broken down into simpler substances (and not always into their pure
components) by chemical means.
Each compound has its own formula. The formula of a compound tells us two things:
the type of elements in the compound
the number of atoms of each element in the compound
O C O carbon dioxide
O water
HH
formula is H2O 2 hydrogen atoms & 1 oxygen atom
H N H ammonia
H
formula is NH3 1 nitrogen atom & 3 hydrogen atoms
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Matter & Materials Worksheet 1
3. Identify each of these pure substances from the description given, and classify it as
an element or a compound. You may need to research these answers!
Element /
Description of substance Name of substance
Compound?
3.1 This gas sublimes at about -800C to form a solid
called “dry ice”.
3.2 This inert gas gives its name to fluorescent lights.
3.3 This golden metal is used as an electrical
conductor.
3.4 This poisonous gas is represented by the chemical
formula NH3. It is used in household cleaners and it
has a characteristic smell.
3.5 This solid is the main constituent of steel. It has
magnetic properties.
3.6 This substance has the chemical symbol U. It is
used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
3.7 This silver metal which is more precious than gold,
is mined near Rustenburg.
3.8 This substance is the main component of chalk and
marble.
3.9 This white crystalline substance is commonly
known as table salt.
3.10 This metal is extracted by the electrolysis of
bauxite. It is processed into metal foil, which is
used in cooking and packaging.
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4. Why is a mixture of iron and sulphur different from iron sulphide? CRYSTALPURE
SPRINGWATER
5. Sometimes bottled spring water is advertised as “pure spring water”.
What is the manufacturer claiming? Is the bottled water “pure”? Or Natural spring
is it “pure spring water”? And what is the difference between these water containing
two claims? no additives or
preservatives
6. Will 2% low fat milk from different dairies differ in its chemical composition?
Explain briefly.
7. Diamond and graphite are pure forms of the same element: carbon. They have very
different physical properties, but similar chemical properties. Compare diamond with
graphite by redrawing and completing the following table of their physical properties.
You may need to research this answer!
8. Explain why you would obtain an impure substance if you mixed pure baking
soda (bicarbonate of soda) with pure table salt.
9. State in each case, whether a mixture or a compound is formed and give a reason for
your answer.
9.1) Vinegar (acetic acid) is poured over baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
9.2) Copper(II) chloride is dissolved in water.
10. When sulphur dissolves in carbon disulphide (CS2), what is this kind of mixture
called? Which substance is the solute and which is the solvent?
11. When a mixture of sand and water is filtered, what do we call the sand which
remains behind on the filter paper? What do we call the water which passes through
the filter paper?
13. Three liquids are separated by fractional distillation. The boiling point of A is 1550C,
B is 750C and C is 1000C. Which would form the first distillate and which would
form the last?
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14. Which method would you use to:
14.1) separate salt and sand from water?
14.2) get pure water from sea water?
14.3) collect salt from sea water?
14.4) separate filings of copper and iron?
14.5) separate mercuric oxide (a red powder) into mercury and oxygen?
14.6) separate a mixture of zinc powder and flowers of sulphur?
14.7) separate water in hydrogen and oxygen gas?
16.
Apparatus
A separating funnel A thermometer
A beaker A Bunsen burner
An evaporating dish A distillation flask
A Liebig Condenser
Choose from the table of apparatus given above, that which you would need to:
16.1) separate water from a mixture of water and magnesium chloride.
16.2) separate water from a mixture of water and methylated spirits.
16.3) separate oil from a mixture of water and oil.
17. Is river water clean and drinkable after it has been filtered? Give reasons for your answer.
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Grade 10
Practical 1: GROUP 1
* Take two spoonfuls of sulphur and 1 spoonful of iron filings and mix them together on your
piece of white A4 paper using the glass rod
Q2: Give the symbol for the elements iron and sulphur.
Q3: Should one use physical or chemical methods to separate this mixture?
* Clean your magnet so that you have the original mixture of the white paper. Fold the paper
and gently transfer a third the mixture into 40 ml of distilled water. Stir and leave to settle.
Q7: Is this a good method of separating the mixture of iron and sulphur?
Q8: What could be done to separate the three substances, namely iron; sulphur and water?
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* Transfer another third of the iron and sulphur mixture from your A4 paper into 40 ml
of carbon disulphide. Stir and leave to settle.
Q10: Is this a good method of separating the mixture of iron and sulphur?
* Fold a piece of filter paper to make a cone and place it in the funnel. Hold the funnel
over a beaker and pour all the mixture of iron, sulphur and carbon disulphide slowly into
the funnel.
And what do we call the substance that is left on the filter paper?
And what do we call the substance that passes through the filter paper?
* Transfer the remaining third of the iron and sulphur mixture into a test tube. Hold the test
tube with the test tube holder. Connect the Bunsen burner to the gas tap. Light a match and
then turn on the gas. Hold the match over the outlet at the top of the Bunsen burner until a
flame appears. Adjust the air intake on the shaft of the Bunsen burner so that a blue flame
is observed. Move the test tube over the flame but ensure that you do not breath in any
fumes by facing the opening of the test tube away from your face. Keep heating the mixture
inside the test tube until it appears to have “blended” together thoroughly.
Allow the test tube to cool down completely. Hold a magnet over the substance that has
formed in the text tube.
Q16: Does it have the same physical and chemical properties as its original components?
Give a reason for your answer.
* Put the latex glove on and use the dropper to put 5 drops of acid over his new substance.
Q18: Have you managed to break down this substance into its original components?
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Grade 10
Practical 2: GROUP 2
* Pour 100 ml of distilled water into a beaker. Pour 100 ml of ethanol into a beaker.
Connect the Bunsen burner to the gas tap. Light a match and then turn on the gas. Hold the
match over the outlet at the top of the Bunsen burner until a flame appears. Adjust the air
intake on the shaft of the Bunsen burner so that a blue flame is observed. Light a splint of
wood using the Bunsen burner and bring the flame near the surface of the ethanol.
Q1: Are water and ethanol pure substances? Give a reason for your answer.
Q2: What do you observe when the flame is brought near the surface of the ethanol?
* Pour the ethanol into the beaker of distilled water. Stir with the glass rod. Pour a small
quantity of this mixture into a porcelain dish. Light the splint of wood again and bring
the flame near the surface of the mixture.
Q3: What do you observe when the flame is brought near the surface of the mixture?
Q5: Will separating this mixture into the original components require a physical or chemical
method?
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Q8: Which substance will evaporate first; water or ethanol?
* Place the guaze on the tripod stand over the burner. Place the neck of the round bottomed
flask securely into the clamp connected to the retort stand and adjust the height of the boss
head so that the bottom of the flask just touches the centre of the guaze.
* Pour the water and alcohol mixture, from your beaker, into the flask and place the
stopper in the neck of the flask. Insert the thermometer into the hole of the stopper so that
the mercury end of the stopper is immersed in the mixture in the flask.
* Connect the Liebig condenser to the side arm of the flask. Place one end of rubber tubing
over the top inlet of the Liebig condenser and connect the other end of the tubing over the
tap. Place one end of another piece of rubber tubing over the outlet of the Liebig
condenser and allow the other end of the tubing to dangle in the basin.
* Place a clean, dry flat bottomed flask under the loose end of the Liebig condenser, ensuring
that the loose end of the Liebig condenser is lower than the end attached to the round
bottomed flask.
* Light the Bunsen burner and gently turn on the tap so that the water flows through the
condenser. Keep your eye on the thermometer. When it reaches the boiling point of ethanol,
move the Bunsen burner in and out from under the tripod stand and try to maintain a
constant temperature (ie: that of the boiling point of ethanol)
* Turn off the tap and the Bunsen burner once you have collected at least 30 ml of
substance in the flat bottomed flask. Pour this substance into a clean porcelain dish and
bring a lit wooden splint near the surface of the substance.
Q9: Why must you ensure that the Liebig condenser is angled when it is set-up?
Q10: Why must you try to maintain a constant temperature (ie: that of the boiling point
of ethanol)? Give a reason for your answer.
Q11: What did you observe when you brought a lit splint near the surface of the substance
that was collected in the flat bottomed flask and then poured into the porcelain dish?
Q14: What method of separation would be used for a mixture containing many different
substances all with different boiling points?
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* Do this OUTSIDE! Put on the latex gloves. Place the 1000 ml cylinder into the glass
trough. Pour 100 ml of hydrogen peroxide into the cylinder. Pour in some sunlight and
food colouring. Put one heaped spoonful of potassium iodide into the cylinder and
QUICKLY stand back.
Note: The potassium iodide is a catalyst in this reaction and the sunlight soap and food
colouring are added just for effect!
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Grade 10
Practical 3: GROUP 3
* Place the neck of the separating funnel securely into the clamp connected to the retort stand
and adjust the height of the boss head so that the bottom of the separating funnel is lowered
slightly into a clean and dry 200 ml beaker. Ensure that the tap of the separating funnel is
closed and then pour the oil and water mixture into the separating funnel.
* Open the tap of the separating funnel and allow the more dense substance of the water
and oil mixture to pass through into the beaker. Close the tap.
* Pour this more dense substance into the measuring cylinder and check to see if you
have accurately collected 80 ml of pure substance.
Q1: What do you observe when the oil and water are poured together into a beaker and left to
settle?
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Q5: Did you manage to collect exactly 80 ml of this more dense substance?
Q6: Is this an effective method of separating a mixture? Give a reason for your
answer.
* Add spoonful of cobalt chloride to the water and stir with the glass rod until it is
completely dissolved. Repeat this procedure until no more cobalt chloride appears to be
dissolving.
Q7: Is this mixture homogeneous or heterogeneous? Give a reason for your answer.
Q8: What method of separation would be most suitable for this mixture?
* Fold a piece of filter paper to make a cone and place it in the funnel. Hold the funnel
over a porcelain dish and pour all the mixture slowly into the funnel.
* Place the guaze on top of the tripod stand and place the stand over a Bunsen burner. Place
the porcelain dish on top of the gauze. Connect the Bunsen burner to the gas tap. Light a
match and then turn on the gas. Hold the match over the outlet at the top of the Bunsen
burner until a flame appears. Adjust the air intake on the shaft of the Bunsen burner so that
a blue flame is observed. Allow the water to evaporate.
Q9: What do you observe about the cobalt chloride left in the porcelain dish compared to the
cobalt chloride crystals that you started with?
Q10: A substance that has had all the water removed from it is said to be ……..
* Mix some zinc and copper metal pieces together in a porcelain dish.
Q14: Are zinc and copper elements or compounds? Give their symbols.
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* DO THIS OUTSIDE! Put on the latex gloves. Pour some sulphuric acid into your last
clean and dry 80 ml beaker. Half fill your last clean and dry 200 ml beaker with sugar.
Pour the acid over the sugar. Stand back, wait a few moments and observe what happens.
(if nothing happens, add a little more acid to the sugar)
Q16: Name the elements making up sugar and state their ratio.
Is the substance left in the beaker pure? Give a reason for your answer.
* Take your gloves off and lightly touch the side of the beaker. Do Not attempt to pick up the
beaker.
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Grade 10
Practical 4: GROUP 4
* Add a spoonful of copper(II) sulphate to the water and stir with the glass rod until it is
completely dissolved. Repeat this procedure until no more copper(II) sulphate appears
to be dissolving. It should be a deep blue solution.
Q1: Is this mixture homogeneous or heterogeneous? Give a reason for your answer.
Q4: What method of separation would be most suitable for this mixture?
* Fold a piece of filter paper to make a cone and place it in the funnel. Hold the funnel
over a clean and dry 200 ml beaker and pour all the mixture slowly into the funnel.
* Place the guaze on top of the tripod stand and place the stand over a Bunsen burner. Place
the beaker on top of the gauze. Connect the Bunsen burner to the gas tap. Light a match
and then turn on the gas. Hold the match over the outlet at the top of the Bunsen burner
until a flame appears. Adjust the air intake on the shaft of the Bunsen burner so that a blue
flame is observed. Heat the mixture to just below boiling point.
* Switch off the gas. Remove the beaker from the guaze and allow the mixture to cool.
You will notice copper(II) sulphate crystals forming at the bottom of the beaker.
* Use a spatula to remove one of the crystals. Tie a piece of string around the crystal.
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* Clean and dry your spatula and tie the string around the centre of the spatula and suspend
the crystal from the spatula ensuring that it is immersed in the solution. Leave this for a
while (perhaps overnight) and observe what has formed on the string.
Q7: Name the elements making up copper(II) sulphate and state their ratio.
Q8: Were you able to separate the copper(II) sulphate into its constituent elements?
Give a reason for your answer.
* Add, drop by drop, barium chloride to the solution. Wait a few moments between
each added drop.
Q10: Do you think you have separated the water and copper(II) sulphate mixture or has your
copper(II) sulphate reacted with the barium chloride to produce new substances?
* Do this OUTSIDE! Crush and mix 1 spoonful of aluminium powder and 3 spoonfuls of
iodine crystals using a mortar and pestle. Transfer this mixture into a clean and dry
porcelain dish and place the dish on the floor (choose an inconspicuous area!). Using a
dropper, slowly drop some water onto the mixture. Stand back as soon as it ignites and
do not breathe in the fumes!
(Note: The water is used as a catalyst)
Q12: Do you think that this mixture has been separated or has a new substance been formed?
Q14: Show the chemical change that occurred by writing a balanced chemical equation for this
reaction.
Q15: Identify your reactant/s and product/s as being either an element or a compound.
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