Elements, compounds and mixtures

Learning out coming

At the end of this unit, students must be able to:

i. explain the terms elements, compounds and mixtures

ii. Classify material into elements compounds and mixtures

iii. State the difference between

Elements and compounds

Compound and mixtures

iv. Chemical Symbols

v. List and explain the kind of elements (ie metals and non – metals)

vi. Group elements into metals and non – metals

vii. Write down the symbols for the first twenty elements of the periodic table
correctly

viii. Draw and label the structure of atom

ix. State the electrical charge on the sub – atomic particles.

x. Describe the formation of ions.

i. Meaning of elements compounds and mixtures

 Elements
An element is any substance that is made up of the same kind of atoms and
cannot be easily split or broken down into simpler substance by any known
chemical means. Examples of elements are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
hydrogen, oxygen, copper, gold, silver, iron, carbon, chlorine, mercury, lead etc.

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  Compound
A compound is a pure substance which consists of two or more elements that are
chemically combine together. Examples of compound are water (H2O), Sugar
(carbon hydrogen and oxygen), clay, chalk, etc.

A compound has different properties from those of the elements that

combine to form the compound. It does not resemble the elements from which it
was formed. For example, when iron and sulphur are chemically combined, a new
substance called iron sulphide is formed.it has different properties from that of
iron and sulphur.

 Mixtures
A mixture is substances which consist of two or more substances (elements and
compound) that are physically combine together. Such substance can be
separated by physical means. Example, air, salt solution, crude oil paint , perfume
sugar solution smoke, soil, toothpaste etc.

Classifying materials into elements, compounds and

mixtures
Most materials around us can be classified into elements, compounds and
mixtures. Can you classify the following materials as elements, compound and
mixtures? Give reasons. Table salt, soil, nickel, mercury, table sugar water, air,
copper, and gold bar.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELEMENTS COMPOUNDS AND MIXTURES

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 Difference between elements and compounds

Elements Compounds
Contain one kind of atom and consist of Contain two or more kinds of atom
only one kind of matter
Cannot be split into two or more Can be split into its component
simpler substances by any known
chemical means
The appearance and properties of The appearance and properties for a
elements are similar to each other. chemical compound are entirely
different from those of the element
that combine to form the compound

Difference between compounds and mixtures

Compounds Mixtures
New substance is formed No new substance is formed
chemical combination of two or more Physical combination of two or more
elements substance
they formed with fixed composition they have no fixed composition(varies in
composition
process is irreversible process is reversible
it is chemical change it is physical change
they cannot be separated by physical they can be separated
means
iv. Chemical Symbols.
a chemical symbol may be defined as the short form of writing the English, Greek
or Latin name of an element using one or two letters

The symbol of any element is one or two letter which means one atom of the
element. A symbol is usually the first or second letter of the English or Latin name
of the element.

Rules for writing symbols of elements

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1. If the symbol of an element has only one letter, then it must be written as
capital letter. Example

Hydrogen - H

Oxygen - O

Nitrogen - N

Boron - B

Carbon - C

Sulphur - S

2. If the symbol of an element is written using two letters, then – The first letter
must be a capital letter and the second letter should be small letter. Example

Magnesium - Mg, not mg or MG or mG

Aluminum - Al, not al or AL or aL

Silicon - Si, not si or SL or aS

Helium - He, not he or HE or hE

Chlorine - Cl, not cl or CL or cL

Sodium - Na, not na or NA or nA

Special chemical symbols;

However some elements have their symbols written in the Latin or Greek
languages. As a result, such elements have their symbols which are quite different
from their English name. example include the elements shown in the table below;

English name Latin/ Greek name symbol

sodium Natrium Na
Tin Stannum Sn
iron Ferrum Fe
copper cuprum cu
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gold aurum Au
mercury Hydrangrum Hg
lead Plumbum Pb
potassium Kalium K
Silver Argentum Ag

Note; - from the table above, the procedure for writing single or double lettered
symbols, the rules remain the same.

Classification of elements
Elements can be classified into

i. Solids: eg. Aluminum, sodium, Copper etc.

ii. Liquids: eg. Mercury

iii. Gases: eg Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen

element can further be classified into:

metals: these are element that form positive ion by losing electrons. eg.
Aluminium, copper, iron

non – metals: these are element that form negative ion by gaining
electrons eg. Sulphur, phosphorus, boron, oxygen

physical properties of metals and non – metal

physical properties of metals

1. metals are solid at room temperature except for mercury

2. metals can be beaten or hammered into various shapes

3. metals can be drown into wires

4. they good conductor of heat and electricity

5. they have high melting and boiling points

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6. they cannot be easily broken

7. they shining surface when polish

8. they have high density

physical properties of non – metals

1. they are mostly gaseous at room temperature except for carbon which solid.

2. They are poor conductor of heat and electricity except for carbon.

3. They have low melting and boiling point.

4.They have low density.

5. They are not ductile.

6. They are not malleable i.e., they cannot be hammered into sheet.

Difference between metals and non – metal

metals non – metals
Good conductors of heat and electricityPoor conductors of heat and electricity
except copper. except carbon and graphite
Strong and tough They are not strong and tough
Shiny or bright and can be polished Not shiny and bright and cannot be
polished
hey can be hammered (malleable) into Cannot be hammered (Not malleable)
thin sheets into this sheets.
Have high melting point except mercury Have low melting point except carbon
with low melting point. with high melting point
Have high boiling point. Have high boiling point.
Have high density except sodium and Have low density.
potassium with low densities.
Ring when hot (sonorous). Do not ring when hit (Not sonorous)

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The table below shows the name of the first twenty (20) elements

atomic elements Symbols relative electronic valency

number atomic configuration
number
1 hydrogen H 1 1 1
2 Helium He 4 2 0
3 Lithium Li 7 2,1 1
4 Beryllium Be 9 2,2 2
5 Boron B 11 2,3 3
6 Carbon C 12 2,4 2 or 4
7 Nitrogen N 14 2,5 3
8 Oxygen O 16 2,6 2
9 Fluorine F 19 2,7 1
10 Neon Ne 20 2,8 0
11 Sodium Na 23 2,8,1 1
12 Magnesium Mg 24 2,8,2 2
13 Aluminum Al 27 2,8,3 3
14 Silicon SI 28 2,8,4 4
15 Phosphorus P 31 2,8,5 3
16 Sulphur S 32 2,8,6 2
17 Chlorine Cl 35.5 2,8,7 1
18 Argon Ar 36.5 2,8,8 0
19 Potassium K 39 2,8,8,1 1
20 Calcium Ca 40 2,8,8,2 2

An Atom
An atom is the smallest electrically neutral particle of an element that can take
part in chemical reaction. It always maintains the properties and the identity of
that element.

A molecule is formed when two or more atoms combine chemically. It is the

smallest electrically neutral particle of an element or compound which can exist in
a free and separate state.

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 Parts of an atom
There are three sub atomic particles of an atom. These are

Proton, Neutron and Electron

Proton: this is the positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron: this is the neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom

Electron: this is the negatively charged particle found orbiting the nucleus of an
atom.

The table below shows the charges and masses of the subatomic particles

particles charge mass

proton +1 1 a.m.u
Electron -1 negligible
Neutron 0 1 a.m.u
Where a.m.u is the atomic mass unit

Atomic number and atomic mass

Atomic number – this shows the position of the element in the periodic table –
in actual sense, the atomic tells us the total number of protons present in the
same atom of an element. It is normally written as a subscript to the symbol of an
element.

Atomic mass or mass number: it is the sum of the number of proton and the
number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. It is written as a superscript to the
symbol of an atom.

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From the above, “a” is the atomic number of the element and “b” is the

atomic mass or mass number of element

STRUCTURE OF AN ATOM

Electron (negative charge)

Proton (positive charge)

Neutron (No charge)

Nucleus

Shell