GENERAL SCIENCE 8

3rd Quarter Lesson 2

Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

Grade 8 SSC

References:

Science Links 8 Revised Edition (REX)

Exploring Life Through Science Series (PHOENIX)

 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

• Define and differentiate elements, compounds and mixtures.

• Give examples of elements, compounds and mixtures

Matter is made up of atoms and molecules.

Elements are the fundamental substances that cannot be broken down into other substances
through chemical methods. They are made up of a certain kind of atom.; thus, they contain only one kind
of atom.
An elemental iron contains iron atoms only. An elemental copper has copper atoms.

However, there are elements that are molecular in its forms , such as diatomic molecules hydrogen
(H2) and oxygen (O2). These are still considered elements because they contain only atoms of the same
element, and no other type of element is combined with it.

When atoms of elements combine, they form a compound; which is a pure substance that is
formed when two atoms or more elements are bonded chemically. These compounds can be broken down
through chemical means. They always have the same composition of atoms which are from different types
of elements. Its properties are different from those of the elements that it contains because it is
considered a new type of substance due to the chemical bonds that form it.

Water is always formed by the elements hydrogen and oxygen in the proportion
11.19% hydrogen and 88.81% oxygen.

Compounds are governed by the Law of Definite Proportion which states that a pure compound
always consists of the same elements combined in the same proportion by mass.

A chemical formula is used as a quick way to show the composition of Water (H2O)
compounds. Letters, numbers, and symbols are used to represent elements and the Salt (NaCl)
number of elements in each compound. Sugar (C12H22O11)

Most of the substances on Earth are compounds. They can be classified as acids, bases, and salts. In
order to identify one from the others, you need to use indicators; which are substances whose colors are
affected by acids and bases (such as a litmus paper).

Acids change a blue litmus paper to red. Bases

change a red litmus paper to blue. Salts do not affect the
indicators ; there is no reaction, so there is no color change.

1 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

 Mixtures are physical combinations of two or more pure substances in which the individual
identities of the substances are not altered. It can be categorized as homogeneous (mixture that appears
as one uniform phase of matter) and heterogeneous (mixture that is not uniformly mixed).

There are three types of mixtures which differ mainly in the size of the dispersed particles.

The substances in mixtures are physical combined; which means that the components of the
mixtures can be retrieved using several methods such as magnetic separation, distillation, filtration, and
evaporation.

Magnetic separation is the process of separating components of

mixtures by using magnets to attract magnetic materials.

Distillation is the process of separating components of a

mixture based on different boiling points. Examples of uses
of distillation include purification of alcohol, desalination, crude
oil refining, and making liquefied gases from air.

Filtration is a process used to separate solids from liquids or gases

using a filter medium that allows the fluid to pass through but not the
solid.

2 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures