Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

Swiss Cottage Secondary School

Secondary 3G3
Science (Chemistry) 5086, 5088

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures (TB Chap 5 p. 71 – 74)

Lesson Notes

Name: ......................................................... ( ) Class: .......... Date: ......................

5.1 How Are Elements, Compounds And Mixtures Different?

Learning Outcomes
Check
(a) Define element, compound and mixture
(b) Describe the differences between elements, compounds and mixtures
in terms of their properties
(c) Identify elements, compounds and mixtures from given information
including diagrams of particles

1. An element is defined as a pure substance that cannot be broken down into two or
more simpler substances by any known chemical methods.
2. All elements are arranged in the Periodic Table in horizontal rows (called periods) and
vertical columns (called groups).
3. Elements can be classified as metals and non-metals. Metals are found on the left-
hand side of the Periodic Table while non-metals are found on the right-hand side.

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

NON-
METALS

METALS

You will learn more about the differences between metals and non-metals in Structure and
Properties of Metals and Alloys.

4. As an element is a pure substance, it has fixed melting and boiling points.

5. Elements can exist as atoms (e.g. helium, He; iron, Fe) or molecules (e.g. oxygen, O2;
chlorine, Cl2).
6. Chemical formulae of elements – an overview

7. A compound is defined as a pure substance containing two or more different elements

that are chemically combined in a fixed ratio.
8. A compound has different properties from its constituent elements.

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

Activity 1
1. Watch the video which shows the formation of a compound
(sodium chloride) from its elements (sodium and chlorine).
Reaction of Chlorine with Sodium 1
[Link]

2. Describe the appearance of:

sodium: silvery white / silver solid

chlorine: greenish-yellow / yellowish-green gas

sodium chloride: white solid

3. The appearance of sodium chloride is different from its elements. In addition,

sodium chloride which is table salt, can be eaten while sodium and chlorine are
both dangerous substances.

4. Thus, a compound has different properties from its constituent elements.

9. A compound can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical methods such
as electrolysis and thermal decomposition.
10. As a compound is a pure substance, it has fixed melting and boiling points.
11. Every compound has a chemical name and chemical formula based on the elements
that made it up. The table shows some examples.
chemical
compound types of atoms (elements) and their ratio
formula
hydrogen
HCl hydrogen : chlorine = 1 : 1
chloride
carbon
CO2 carbon : oxygen = 1 : 2
dioxide
calcium
CaCO3 calcium : carbon: oxygen = 1 : 1 : 3
carbonate
aluminium
Al(NO3)3 aluminium : nitrogen : oxygen = 1 : 3 : 9
nitrate
water H2O hydrogen : oxygen = 2 : 1

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

Activity 2
1. Watch the video which shows the electrolysis of water to form
its elements, hydrogen and oxygen.
Hydrogen and oxygen from water
[Link]

2. Answer the following questions based on the video.

(a) The gas collected on the left-hand side of the apparatus is hydrogen gas. We
know this because the gas extinguishes a lighted splint with a ‘pop’ sound.
(b) The gas collected on the right-hand side of the apparatus is oxygen gas. We
know this because the gas relights a glowing splint.
(c) We know that hydrogen and oxygen gases combine in a fixed ratio of 2:1
because the volume of hydrogen gas collected is twice the volume of oxygen
gas.
(d) The word equation for the electrolysis of water
water hydrogen + oxygen

3. Watch another video which shows the thermal decomposition of

mercury oxide to form its elements.
Decomposition of mercury(II) oxide
[Link]

4. Answer the following questions based on the video.

(a) On heating strongly, mercury oxide decomposes into its elements,

mercury and oxygen.
(b) We know that it is mercury because it appears as a silver / grey liquid.
(c) We know that the gas is oxygen because the gas relights a glowing splint.
(d) The word equation for the thermal decomposition of mercury oxide
mercury oxide mercury + oxygen

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

12. A mixture is an impure substance that is made up of two or more substances that are
not chemically combined together.
13. The constituents in a mixture can be added together in any ratio.
14. The constituents in a mixture can be separated by physical methods e.g. filtration and
distillation. (link to Topic 3)
15. As a mixture is an impure substance, it does not have fixed melting and boiling points.
It melts and boils over a range of temperatures.
16. The table compares elements, compounds and mixtures.

element compound mixture

two or more elements
two or more elements
What is it made and/or compounds that
only one element that are chemically
of? are not chemically
combined
combined
How is it mostly naturally from a chemical usually from physical
formed? occurring reaction mixing
What is the ratio
of its - fixed ratio no fixed ratio
constituents?
has different properties usually has similar
What are its
- from its constituent properties to its
properties like?
elements constituent substances
Melting and melt and boil over a
fixed fixed
boiling points range of temperatures

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

17. The table compares mixtures and compounds.

factor mixture compound

The components can be A compound cannot be separated
separated by physical by physical processes. It can only
processes such as filtration be broken down into simpler
separation
and simple distillation. substances by chemical
processes (e.g. electrolysis or
thermal decomposition).
Its properties are similar to The physical and chemical
properties those of its constituent properties are different from those
components. of its constituent elements.
No chemical reaction takes A chemical reaction takes place
place when a mixture is when a compound is formed —
energy
formed — usually there is usually there is an energy change,
changes
little or no energy change. e.g. the reaction mixture becomes
hot or cold.
The components of a mixture The elements in a compound are
composition can be mixed in any always combined in a fixed
proportion. proportion by mass.

18. The figure below compares element, compound and mixture in terms of particles.

element compound mixture

mixture of elements

mixture of elements
and compound

mixture of
compounds

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

Checkpoint 1
1 Two elements, R and S, combine to form the compound, RS2.

Which statement is true?

A An energy change occurs when RS2 is formed.

B RS2 can be separated physically to form R and S.
C RS2 has similar physical properties as both R and S.
D The ratio of R and S atoms combined together is 2:1. ( A )

2 When sugar is heated strongly, it breaks down to form water and carbon.

(a) What are the elements that form sugar?

hydrogen, oxygen and carbon

(b) Hence, or otherwise, explain if sugar is an element, compound or mixture.

Sugar is a compound.

Sugar can be broken down chemically to form simpler substances,

namely water and carbon. / Sugar is made up of three elements
chemically combined together.

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

3 The figure contains information about substances A, B, C, D, E and F.

Solid A Solid B Solid C

A is white. It is the only B is red. It C burns in air to form
substance formed decomposes to form a carbon dioxide and
when magnesium silvery liquid and water. It does not have
burns in oxygen. oxygen gas. a fixed melting point.

Solid D Liquid E Liquid F

D is speckled green E separates into two F is a silvery liquid
and white. The green liquids on distillation. which forms a vapour
particles dissolve in on heating and turns
water but not the white back into a silvery
particles. liquid on cooling.

Classify each of the substances above as either an element, a compound or a

mixture. Complete the table by placing a tick () in each row.

solid element compound mixture

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

4 The figure shows drawings of particles in gases.

Which of the drawings, A, B, C, D, or E best represents

(a) a mixture of elements, E

(b) molecules of methane (CH4), D

(c) molecules of water (H2O), C

(d) a mixture of compounds and an element? B

5 Read the passage carefully.

Iron wool is a grey solid and chlorine is a greenish yellow gas. When red-hot
iron wool is added to chlorine gas in a conical flask, it bursts into flames and
iron(III) chloride which is a yellow-brown solid is formed. Iron wool is insoluble
in water but iron(III) chloride dissolved in water to form a brown solution.

(a) Identify the elements, compounds and mixture in the passage.

Iron (wool) and chlorine are elements.

Iron(III) chloride and water are compounds.

Iron(III) chloride solution is a mixture.

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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Lesson Notes (Teacher)

(b) State and explain two observations in the passage which show that a
compound is formed.

Light energy is produced as the red-hot iron wool bursts into flames.
Energy is given out when a compound is formed. /

Iron(III) chloride is a yellow-brown solid but its elements, iron wool is a

grey solid and chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas. A compound has different
appearance from its constituent elements. /

Iron(III) chloride is soluble in water but iron wool is not soluble in water.
The properties of a compound are different from its constituent elements.

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