Elements, Compounds, Mixtures, and Colloids

Experiment Number # 4 Group

Number # 3

Submitted to: Engr. Ivandale Gundran, RChE

Submitted by:
Leader: Bigcas, Sean Paul C.
Assistant Leader: Mantaring, Patrick Allan P.
Members:
Alejo, Angel Rafael C.
Bassig, Jake Gacute Mantaring,
Patrick Allan P.
Martin, Matt L.
Miano, John Michael
Villalon, John Cedrick O.
Vargas, Vincent Angelo C

Objective(s):
The activity aims to identify and classify substances into elements, compounds, mixtures, and colloids.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:
2.1 Compare the basic physical properties of elements, compounds, mixtures, and colloids.
2.2 Classify a substance as a pure substance (element or compound), mixture or colloid..
2.3 Prepare a laboratory report that includes data and observations, data analysis, data validation, Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), valid conclusions, and safe waste disposal.

Discussion:
Matter is composed of atoms that exist as solid, liquid or gas. It is classified into two, a pure substance
and mixture. An element is a substance whose molecules are made up of one kind of atom while
compounds are substances whose molecules are made up of two or more kinds of atoms combined in a
definite proportion.
An element cannot be transformed into simpler substances, while compounds may be resolved into its
elements; mixtures can be homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous mixture has no distinguishing
characteristics when seen by the naked eye. For heterogeneous mixture, the substance still carries their
identity when they are mixed and displays more than one phase marked off by visible boundaries.
Colloid is a heterogeneous mixture of two or more substances in which their finely subdivided molecules
remain suspended in the dispersion medium for a considerable length of time. Colloid possesses Tyndall
Effect which is a property to scatter light in all directions.

Materials
4 Beaker (100 mL) Mossy Zinc

1 Graduated Cylinder (50 mL) Sodium Chloride, NaCl

1 Glass Funnel Activated Carbon

1 Stirring Rod Iron Filings
1 Hot Plate Starch
2 Watch Glass Soap
1 Bar Magnet Sugar
Small Screen Distilled Water
Small Flashlight
Electronic Balance

Procedure
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

1. Weigh 5 grams each of mossy zinc, sand, sodium chloride, activated carbon, and iron filings. Use
a watch glass or weighing paper to contain each substance. Record the masses of the substances.
2. Fill out Table 1 for the physical properties of each substance.
3. Get a bar magnet and draw it near each substance if on a watch glass or by running a magnet
under each piece of paper. Record your observations.
4. Combine the five substances in a sheet of bond paper. Observe the appearance of the mixture.
 5. Try to separate the mixture using a magnet underneath the bond paper. Weigh the separated
component.
6. Use a small screen to separate the remaining components of the mixture. Use a preweighted
beaker as a container for the smaller particles.
7. Try to separate again the bigger particles using a smaller screen. Record the masses and your
observations.
8. Add about 20 mL of distilled water to the beaker containing the smaller particles. Stir the
mixture.
9. Weigh a piece of filter paper then pour the contents into the glass funnel with the filter paper. If
some solid still remains in the beaker, wash with distilled water and pour again into the funnel.
10. Heat the mixture on a hot plate set at medium heat, when the content inside the beaker is almost
dried, turn off the hot plate and let the content inside the beaker dry.
11. Wait for the beaker to cool before observing the contents. Weigh the beaker and the contents.
Describe the contents of the beaker.

Colloid
1. Place a beaker containing water against a beam of light.
2. Observe by viewing the beaker at the right angle to the beam of light. Is the light scattered or did
it pass through the water?
3. Repeat by using 2g starch, soap and sugar solution. Record your observations.

Data and Results:

Table 1

Substance Observations

Mossy Zinc Solid, color silver, unique structure

Iron Filings Grayish black, near powdered, rough texture

NaCl White, rough texture, near powdered

Activated Carbon Powdered texture, color black, solid crystal

structure
 Before mixing

After mixing

After separation of magnetic substance

Before the use of screen

After the use of screen

Contents of the filter paper

Beaker’s content after evaporation

 Tyndall Effect

Water

Soap

Sugar
Table 2
Substance Mass before Mixing Final Mass After Percent Yield
Separation

Mossy Zinc 5g 5g 100%

Iron Filings 5g 4.7 g 94%

NaCl 5g 2g 40%

Activated Carbon 5g 5g 100%

Table 3
Mixture Observation (Tyndall Effect)

Water The light passes through easily

Starch Solution The light is unable to pass completely in the

solution

Soap Solution The light is able to pass through the solution but is
dimmer than water

Sugar Solution The light is capable to pass through the solution

but unlike the Soap solution that is much
brighter

Questions
1. Did the addition of the Four substances produce a new compound? Why?
- No, because we did not combine the Four substances with a chemical reaction or process
but rather only physical mixing. And the outcome of the mixing of the substances results
in a mixture that noticeably has different substances in it.
2. How did the mixture respond to the magnet? Which substance was separated?
- Only a single substance reacted to the magnet, the Iron filings. While the remaining
substances are either left or carried with the iron fillings.
3. Which substance among the remaining substances will be dissolved by water? - Sodium
chloride (NaCl)
4. What is the Tyndall Effect?
- Tyndall effect, also called Tyndall phenomenon, scattering of a beam of light by a
medium containing small suspended particles—e.g., smoke or dust in a room, which
makes visible a light beam entering a window. The Tyndall Effect is a light scattering
phenomenon that only occurs in colloids and suspension and does not exist in a real
solution. This result is used to distinguish between a real solution and a colloid in a
combination.
Waste Disposal
Solid Waste: Place used solids and residues in a specially labeled waste container for solid waste.

Liquid Waste: Place liquids/solution in specially labeled liquid waste containers for acid wastes /alkaline wastes /inorganic
wastes. Drain water in the sink.

Conclusion
In summary, the experiment on elements, compounds, mixtures, and colloids provides valuable insights
into the nature and characteristics of these substances.

1. Elements: Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by
chemical means. They consist of only one type of atom and are represented by their unique symbols on
the periodic table.

2. Compounds: Compounds are substances composed of two or more different elements chemically
combined in fixed proportions. They can be broken down into simpler substances through chemical
reactions. Compounds have distinct properties different from their constituent elements.

3. Mixtures: Mixtures are combinations of two or more substances that are physically intermingled
but not chemically combined. They can be separated by physical means and do not have fixed ratios of
components. Mixtures can exist in various states (solid, liquid, gas) depending on the nature of the
substances involved.

4. Colloids: Colloids are a specific type of mixture where tiny particles are dispersed in a medium
(e.g., liquid, solid, gas) forming a homogeneous or heterogeneous system. The particle size in a colloid is
larger than in a solution but smaller than in a suspension. Colloids exhibit unique properties like Tyndall
effect (scattering of light) and are an important category in various fields such as medicine, food, and
materials science.

Understanding the distinction between elements, compounds, mixtures, and colloids provides a
foundation for studying the behavior and interaction of different types of matter. This knowledge is
crucial in various scientific disciplines and practical applications, ranging from chemistry and physics to
everyday activities like cooking and environmental analysis.
Documentation