Chemistry: essential ideas

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Seminar 1
Problem
Which of the following are pure substances? Explain. 
a. Calcium chloride, used to melt ice on roads, consists of two elements, calcium and
chlorine, in a fixed mass ratio. CaCI2
b. Sulfur consists of sulfur atoms combined into octatomic molecules.
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c. Baking powder, a leavening agent, contains 26% to 30% sodium hydrogen carbonate
(NaHCO3) and 30% to 35% calcium dihydrogen phosphate by mass. Ca(H2PO4)2
d. Cytosine, a component of DNA, consists of H, C, N, and O atoms bonded in a
specific arrangement.
e. Classify each substance (a-d) as an element, compound, or mixture, and explain
your answers.
The law of Mass Conservation

The total mass of substances does not change during a chemical

reaction
Law of Mass Conservation
• The total mass of substances present does not change during a chemical
reaction.

reactant 1 + reactant 2 product

total mass = total mass

calcium oxide + carbon dioxide calcium carbonate

CaO + CO2 CaCO3

56.08 g + 44.00 g 100.08 g

 Law of Definite (or Constant) Composition
• No matter the source, a particular compound is composed
of the same elements in the same parts (fractions) by
mass.

Calcium
carbonate
Analysis by Mass Mass Fraction Percent by Mass
(grams/20.0 g) (parts/1.00 part) (parts/100 parts)
8.0 g calcium 0.40 calcium 40% calcium
2.4 g carbon 0.12 carbon 12% carbon
9.6 g oxygen 0.48 oxygen 48% oxygen

20.0 g 1.00 part by mass 100% by mass

Problem
Identify the mass law that each of the following observations
demonstrates, and explain your reasoning:
 A. A sample of potassium chloride from Chile contains the same percent
by mass of potassium as one from Poland.
 B. A flashbulb contains magnesium and oxygen before use and
magnesium oxide afterward, but its mass does not change.
 C. Arsenic and oxygen form one compound that is 65.2 mass % arsenic
and another that is 75.8 mass % arsenic.
Solution
• A. Law of definite composition: the composition is the same
regardless of its source. 
• B. Law of mass conservation: the total quantity of matter does
not change. 
• C.  Law of multiple proportions: two elements can combine to
form two different compounds that have different proportions
of those elements.
Learning Check

Distinguishing Between Physical and Chemical Change

 PROBLEM: Decide whether each of the following processes is

primarily a physical or a chemical change, and explain briefly:

 (a) Frost forms as the temperature drops on a humid winter night.

 (b) A cornstalk grows from a seed that is watered and fertilized.

 (c) A match ignites to form ash and a mixture of gases.

 (d) Perspiration evaporates when you relax after jogging.

 (e) A silver fork tarnishes slowly in air.

SOLUTION
 (a) Frost forming is a physical change: the drop in temperature changes water
vapor (gaseous water) in humid air to ice crystals (solid water).
 (b) A seed growing involves chemical change: the seed uses water, substances
from air, fertilizer, and soil, and energy from sunlight to make complex changes in
composition.
 (c) The match burning is a chemical change: the combustible substances in the
match head are converted into other substances.
 (d) Perspiration evaporating is a physical change: the water in sweat changes its
form, from liquid to gas, but not its composition.
 (e) Tarnishing is a chemical change: silver changes to silver sulfide by reacting with
sulfur-containing substances in the air. Ag2S
Elements
Elements
Elements
Domain of Chemistry
Identify each of the underlined items as a part of either the macroscopic
domain, the microscopic domain, or the symbolic domain of chemistry.
For those in the symbolic domain, indicate whether they are symbols for a
macroscopic or a microscopic feature.

 a) A certain molecule contains one H atom and one Cl atom.

 b) Copper wire has a density of about 8 g/cm3.
 c) The bottle contains 15 grams of Ni powder.
 d) A sulfur molecule is composed of eight sulfur atoms.
Physical and Chemical Properties

Classify the six underlined properties in the following paragraph

as chemical or physical:
 Fluorine is a pale yellow gas that reacts with most substances. The
free element melts at −220 °C and boils at −188 °C. Finely
divided metals burn in fluorine with a bright flame. Nineteen grams
of fluorine will react with 1.0 gram of hydrogen.
Measurement
Indicate the SI base units or derived units that are appropriate for
the following measurements:
 a) the length of a marathon race (26 miles 385 yards)
 b) the mass of an automobile
 c) the volume of a swimming pool
 d) the speed of an airplane
 e) the density of gold
 f) the area of a football field
 g) the maximum temperature at the South Pole on April 1, 1913