Term 2 2025 Year 8 Chemical Sciences

Things That Matter

Unit Overview
Key Resources
❑ Access to Stile

❑ Canvas– information on assessments, class PowerPoint slides,

worksheets, etc..,

❑ Workbook – to take your own notes in class as well as working

through revision exercise; this will be a good revision resource for you
and will be assessed.

❑ Google Drive Science Folder – to file all your practical

reports/notes/revision etc.
 Chemical Sciences Learning Outcomes
Energy Around Us
States of Matter: The properties of the different states of matter can be explained in terms of the motion and arrangement of particles
LO 1 - explaining why a model for the structure of matter is needed
LO 2 - modelling the arrangement of particles in solids, liquids and gases

LO 3 - using the particle model to explain observed phenomena linking the energy of particles to temperature changes

Elements Compounds & Mixtures: Differences between elements, compounds and mixtures can be described at a particle level
LO 1 - recognizing that elements and simple compounds can be represented by symbols and formulas
LO 2 - locating elements on the periodic table

Chemical Changes: Chemical change involves substances reacting to form new substances
LO 1 - identifying the differences between chemical and physical changes
LO 2 - identifying evidence that a chemical change has taken place

LO 3 - investigating simple reactions such as combining elements to make a compound

LO 4 - recognizing that the chemical properties of a substance, for example its flammability and ability to corrode, will affect its use
Assessments Dates
• Practical write up (week 4)
• Topic Test (week 7)
Week 1 Learning
Outcomes
States of Matter: The properties of the
different states of matter can be explained
in terms of the motion and arrangement
of particles.
• LO1 – modelling the arrangement of
particles on solids, liquids and gases
• LO 2 - using the particle model to
distinguish between the properties of
liquid water, ice and steam
• LO 3 – using the particle model to
explain observed phenomena linking the
energy of particles to temperature
changes
 What is matter?
• Everything around us that
takes up space and has mass
is known as matter.
• Matter includes solids, liquids
and gases. These different
forms of a substance are
called states of matter.

• All matter is made up of

atoms, the simplest building
blocks.

Changing Water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuE1LePDZ4Y

Changes of State
Particle Model: What is it?
• All substances are made up of particles
• Particles are attracted toward each other
• Particles are always moving
• Increase temperature = increase kinetic energy =
increase particle movement
Solids
Consider the following objects. Can you identify some properties of
solids?

• HINT: Think about shape/volume and ability to change these.

Why do solids have these properties?
• High density
high attractive forces between atoms
Particles cannot move freely (only vibrate)
Liquids
Consider the following liquids. Can you identify some properties of
liquids?

HINT: Think about shape/volume and ability to change these.

Why do liquids have these properties?
• Atoms are still held tightly together by attractive forces
(and still close together)
• BUT an increase in energy means the forces aren’t as strong
as seen in solids
Gases
Consider the following gases. Can you identify some properties of
gases?

HINT: Think about shape/volume and ability to change these.

Why do gases have these properties?
• The forces between particles are very weak (therefore,
particles move freely)
• This is because of an even greater increase in energy
 • Particles have a force of
attraction which tends to
hold them together

• Solid, liquid & gas

particles are always
moving*

• Adding heat gives the

particles more energy and
causes :
The particles to move faster
The particles to break free of
the attractive forces
The Particle Model
Measuring Matter
• The amount of matter is called mass (this is DIFFERENT to
weight!)

Capacity

1mL = 1cm3

Mass
 Measurement Questions
1. Convert each of these measurements into the unit
shown in brackets:
a) 0.4 kg (g)
b) 1845 g (kg)
c) 16.8 g (kg)
d) 2.38 g (mg)
e) 0.052 kg (mg)
f) 1652 mL (L)
g) 1.2 L (mL)
 Stile Lesson: States of Matter
1.1 Lesson: States of Matter

Checklist: 1.2 Lesson: Particle Model

2.1 Lesson: Changing States
Experiment
Chemical vs Physical Change
Week 2 Learning
Outcomes
Chemical Changes: Chemical change
involves substances reacting to form new
substances
• LO 1 - identifying the differences between
chemical and physical changes
• LO 2 - identifying evidence that a chemical
change has taken place

• LO 3 - investigating simple reactions such

as combining elements to make a
compound

• LO 4 - recognizing that the chemical

properties of a substance, for example its
flammability and ability to corrode, will
affect its use
Physical Properties
• Physical Properties are
observable facts about an object Item Property 1 Property 2
i.e. what do you Tennis ball
see/feel/smell/hear?
Dishwashing
sponge
Glasses lens

Aluminium foil
• We can change the physical
properties of an item without
changing its chemical makeup.
Physical Change
(Change of State)

Physical changes are those that you

can either observe using your five
senses or measure directly:

e.g. Colour, size, shape, texture,

temperature, malleability (beaten or
bent into shape) and ductility
(stretched).

If you can reverse it to

its original state…it’s
PHYSICAL Heat Energy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndw9XYA4iF0
 • Chemical change occurs
when a new substance is
formed (the rearrangement
of particles and
breaking/formation of
bonds)

• There are some signs to look

for that will help you identify
when a chemical change
occurs.

Chemical Changes
 Temperature change
Sound produced
Signs of Light produced
Chemical
Change Smell produced
Colour change
Formation of a precipitate
Comparing Physical and Chemical Changes

Chemical Changes Physical Changes

Not easily reversed (if possible at Are reversible
all)
New products formed No new products
Accompanied by a change in Produce no new energy
energy (eg heat/light/sound.)
Examples of Physical and Chemical
Changes
Chemical Changes Physical Changes
Burning wood Water evaporating
Fireworks Chocolate solidifying
Food Metabolism Crushing a can
Roasting a Chicken Shredding paper
 Chemical Reactions
• Reactants are substances which you begin with.
• Substances you finish with are called the products.

• We can use word equations to describe these reactions

REACTANTS → PRODUCTS

EXOTHERMIC: Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + water + energy

ENDOTHERMIC: Carbon dioxide + Water + energy → Glucose + oxygen

Example
When sodium chloride (NaCl) solution is mixed with a silver
nitrate (AgNO3) solution, white silver chloride (AgCl) is
produced, leaving behind a sodium nitrate (NaNO3) solution.
Write the word equation for this chemical reaction.

•
What is a chemical reaction?
1. Write down about whether or not a chemical
reaction is taking place in the cartoon.

2. Explain how you know whether a chemical

reaction has taken place.

3. Is there a chemical reaction taking place

underneath the pot? Explain.

4. Clouds are forming above the pot. Is this

evidence of another chemical reaction?
Explain your answer.
 What is a chemical reaction?
Is the frozen substance in
this man’s beard and the
inside edge of his hood the
result of a chemical
reaction? Explain your
answer.
 Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it
undergoes. These changes can be divided into 2 classes:
physical changes and chemical changes. In a physical
change, one or more physical properties of a substance are
altered. Examples of such physical properties are: size,
shape, color, and state of matter. Grinding, melting,
Experiment: dissolving, and evaporating are all physical changes. No
new substance or substances are formed as a result of a
Chemical vs physical change.
A chemical change results in the formation of one or more
Physical “new” substances. These new substances differ in chemical
Change properties and composition from the original substance.
Iron rusting and paper burning are two examples of
chemical change.
In this practical, you will observe the differences between
physical and chemical change.
 Stile Lesson Physical and Chemical Change
1.1 Lesson: Changing Matter
1.2 Lesson: Physical Change
Checklist: 2.1 Lesson: Chemical Change
2.3 Lesson: Physical vs Chemical Change
Atoms (Elements, Compounds and Mixtures)
Week 3 Learning
Outcomes
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures:
• LO 1 – modelling the arrangement of
particles in elements and compounds
• LO 2 - recognizing that elements and
simple compounds can be represented
by symbols and formulas
• LO 3 – explaining why elements and
compounds can be represented by
chemical formulas, while mixtures
cannot
 History of the Atom

•John Dalton – Solid sphere

Discovered different elements
have different type of atoms

•JJ Thomson – Plum pudding

Discovers electrons

•Rutherford – Nuclear model

Discovered a centralised
positively charged nucleus

•Bohr – Planetary model

Electron configuration
What are atoms made of?
The nucleus is made of protons and neutrons.

The number of protons in an atom define what type of element it is.

proton neutron electron

Protons have a positive charge

Most of the space within an atom is empty space.
Electrons have a negative charge
Neutrons have no charge.
What are atoms made up of? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lNF3_30lUE
The basic structure of an atom
 ATOMIC STRUCTURE

4 Atomic mass

He
the number of protons and
neutrons in an atom

2 Atomic number
the number of protons in an atom
- THIS DETERMINES THE ELEMENT

number of electrons = number of protons

How small is an atom compared to an iPhone
8?
Helium atom iPhone 8 Difference

Height 7.3mm (height) x 100 Million

(100,000,000)

Mass 148 g X 10 Trillion Trillion

(10,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000)
 Stile Lesson Atomic Theory
1.1 Lesson: The Structure of Atoms

Checklist: 2.1 Lesson: Protons and electrons

3.1 Lesson: Neutrons
Elements
• All elements are made of
atoms.
• Atoms of the same element
are alike.
• Atoms of different elements
are different.
 Who discovered the
elements?
• Some elements, such as silver and gold, have been known about
and used by people for centuries
• Most elements were only discovered in the 18th and 19th
century sometimes by mistake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-48znAg7VE
• British scientist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen when he
experimented with heating gases.
• Other scientists, such as Humphrey Davy, used electrolysis to
isolate elements such as sodium and potassium for the first time.
• At the start of the 20th century, Marie Curie and other scientists
discovered radioactive elements like polonium and francium.
Which countries were these elements named after?
How many elements are there?
There are currently 118 elements that have been discovered, 94 of which are naturally
occurring. The remaining 24 elements only exist under laboratory conditions.
How many naturally-occurring elements can you name?
Grouping elements
• Elements can be grouped according to their physical and
chemical properties.
• Metal, non-metals, metalloids
• Periodic Table (families, groups and periods)
◦ Alkali metals
◦ Alkaline Earth metals
◦ Halogens
◦ Noble gases
◦ Actinide and Lanthanides
◦ Transition metals

YouTube: Alkali Metals in Water

Metals

- Relatively high melting point & boiling point

- Conductive (transfer electricity and heat)
- Lustrous (shiny)
- Malleable (bent/change shape)
- Ductile (drawn into wires)
- Solid at room temp (except for Mercury)
Non-metals

- Relatively low melting points & boiling points

- Non-conductive
- Dull (if a solid) - not shiny/lustre
- Brittle (if a solid) - shatter/break apart
- Gaseous at room temperature (mostly)
Metalloids

Some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals

● Look like metals (they are usually shiny)

● Not very good at conducting electricity (semiconductors)
● Brittle (break or shatter)
● Used in electronics (like silicon)
 In Chemistry we use specific notation to label
substances.

Chemical The symbols used are able to be replicated

Symbols across the worlds scientific population.

The symbols can be found on the periodic

table.
 • H = hydrogen
• O = Oxygen
• C = Carbon

If there are two letters in the element’s symbol,

the second letter is always a small letter
Chemical
Symbols • Co = Cobalt
• He = Helium

Most symbols are quite easy to interpret,

some less so…..
Can you find the Symbol for
Iron, Gold & Lead?
Week 5 Learning
Outcomes
• Elements, Compounds and Mixtures (VCSSU095)
• LO2 - recognising that elements and simple
compounds can be represented by symbols and
formulas
• LO3 - explaining why elements and compounds can
be represented by chemical formulas while
mixtures cannot
• LO4- investigating mixtures and using a range of
physical separation techniques such as filtration,
decantation, evaporation, crystallisation,
chromatography and distillation

• Chemical Changes (VCSSU098)

• LO 3 - investigating simple reactions such as
combining elements to make a compound
 Elements vs Compounds
Difference between Elements and Compounds
Elements Compounds

Elements consist of same type of atoms Compounds are made up of two or more
types of atoms chemically bonded

Elements cannot be broken down further A compound can be broken into simpler
elements using chemical reactions

There are about 118* elements that have We can form endless compounds
been observed
Examples of elements are Hydrogen, Examples of compounds
Oxygen, Iron etc Water, Table Salt, Baking soda
 The word water is:
• Agua in Spanish
• Eau in French
Chemical
• Vatten in Swedish
Formula • Wasser in German
• 水 in Mandarin
 •

Chemical
Symbols and
Formula
Compounds
and Molecules not Compounds
compounds and
Molecules
molecules
• Compounds must have two
different types of atom bonded
together
H2 H2 O
• Molecules have two or more atoms
bonded together; they can be the
same or different types of atoms. O2 HNO3
Cl2 Na2CO3
Element, Compound or Mixture?
For each of the pieces of 1 is made of only one sort of atom
information, decide 2 melts when you heat it
whether: 3 has the symbol C
4 is made of different atoms joined together
1. A the substance is 5 is a solid at room temperature
6 is made of atoms
definitely an element 7 has the chemical formula KF
8 is pure water
2. B the substance is 9 has the formula CO
definitely a compound 10 has the symbol Co
11 has the formula O2
12 has the formula CO2
3. C it is not possible to 13 does not change when you heat it
tell on the evidence 14 breaks into two new materials when you heat it.
available.
 1 is made of only one sort of atom
For each of the pieces 2 melts when you heat it
of information, decide 3 has the symbol C

whether: 4 is made of different atoms joined together

5 is a solid at room temperature
A the substance is 6 is made of atoms
definitely an element 7 has the chemical formula KF

B the substance is 8 is pure water

9 has the formula CO
definitely a compound 10 has the symbol Co
C it is not possible to 11 has the formula O2

tell on the evidence 12 has the formula CO2

13 does not change when you heat it
available. 14 breaks into two new materials when you heat it.
Element, compound or mixture?
 When Magnesium is burned in the presence of oxygen,
a compound known as Magnesium oxide is formed, as
indicated by the following word equation.
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide
Experiment: There are three possible chemical formula for the
Which product of this reaction: MgO, MgO2 or Mg2O. By using
our knowledge chemical reactions, we can determine
compound? which compound is produced.
 Stile Lesson: Elements and Compounds
1.1 Lesson: Elements
Checklist: 2.1 Lesson: The Periodic Table
3.1 Lesson: Compounds