What is

Matter?
Year 7
Chemistry
Week 1
 Learning Objectives
Describe I can describe matter as something that occupies space and has mass and is
made up of tiny units called atoms

Explain I can explain that matter is classified as either being a

substance i.e. elements and compounds OR
pure

an impure substance i.e. a mixture

Classify I can classify a range of substances as being pure or impure

Define I can define an element as consisting of only one type of atom.

Define I can define a compound as being made up of more than one type of atom
chemically combined.
Matter
• Matter is anything that occupies space
(volume) and has mass.
• Everything around us is made of matter.
• You may have heard the phrase states of
matter.
• Matter can take different forms
depending on the conditions.
• Here on Earth matter is generally in the
form of a solid, liquid or a gas.
• Matter is made up of tiny particles
called atoms!
What is Matter?
Atoms
• The smallest particles of matter.
• Made up of subatomic particles.
• Has a nucleus, containing protons and
neutrons.
• Has electrons in orbits around the nucleus.
• Everything is made of atoms.
• Atoms are really, really small and are actually
made up of even smaller particles, known as
sub-atomic particles.
• These sub-atomic particles are called:
• Protons
• Neutrons
• Electrons
Atoms
continued…

• Atoms are not all the same.

• They have different numbers of
electrons, protons and neutrons.
• Each different kind of atom makes up
an element.
• An atom consists of a positively
charged nucleus surrounded by
negatively charged electrons which
move around the nucleus in orbits.
• Much of an atom is empty space!
 Atoms
continued…
• Electrons are negatively charged.
• Protons are positively charged.
• Neutrons have no charge.
• Atoms have an overall neutral charge as the
number of electrons is equal to the number of
protons.
 • If an atom loses an electron, it becomes a positive ion. It
What happens has more protons than electrons.
when they aren’t
neutral? • If an atom gains an electron, it becomes a negative ion. It
has more electrons than protons.
Watch this video to find out more
about atoms.
Molecules
Atoms can form chemical bonds: they are attracted and
stuck to each other.

Two or more atoms chemically bonded together is called

a molecule.

Atoms of the same element can

bond together
e.g. Oxygen is made up of O2 molecules.

Atoms of different elements can bond

together
e.g. Water is made up of H2O molecules.
Elements
• Elements are made up of one type of atom –
all their atoms are the same.
• Elements cannot be broken down into
anything simpler.

• There are 118 elements (94 occur naturally

on Earth, the others are man-made).
• Elements are found on the Periodic Table.
• Each element has a unique chemical
symbol.
• Elements can be made of molecules!
Compounds

• A compound is made up of more

than one element, chemically bonded
together.
• Compounds can be described by a
chemical formula – this states which
atoms are in one unit of the compound.
• Not all compounds are made up
of molecules, but many are.
sen
cereffD
i
Element or Compound?

In your notes, draw each picture under the correct heading.

Element Element Element Compound Compound
Pure Substances
Year 7 Chemistry Lesson 1
Learning Objectives
• I can classify a range of substances as being pure or
Cla
impure.
ssif
y
• I can explain that impure substances are only physically
Ex
combined.
pla
in
• I can define an impure substance as a combination of
De
two or more pure substances.
fin
e
Matter can be arranged as follows…
Pure
Substances
• A pure substance has a constant chemical
composition.

• Pure substances can be described with a

chemical formula.

• Elements and compounds are both pure

substances.

• Pure substances have constant chemical and

physical properties
• e.g. melting point, boiling point,
density.
Mixtures
A mixture is a substance in which two or more substances are mixed but not chemically
joined together
• This means that a chemical reaction has not taken place.
• Mixtures can be easily separated and the substances in the mixture keep their original
properties.

• Imagine mixing skittles and full-size marshmallows…

the individual components (skittles and marshmallows) could easily be separated
using a filter and
each component of the mixture (skittles and marshmallows) don’t change.
 Comparison Table
PURE
ATOM MOLECULE ELEMENT COMPOUND MIXTURE
SUBSTANCE

Substance A substance made

A particle made of A substance made
The smallest Substances consisting of two of of different
two or more atoms of only one type of
particle of a consisting of only more different types elements and/or
that are bonded particle (element or
chemical substance one type of atom of atoms bonded compounds mixed
together compound)
together (not bonded)
Compounds and Mixtures
• The molecules in a mixture of • But the molecules in water look like
hydrogen gas and oxygen gas look like this…
this

…this is because water is a compound.

Water is made when hydrogen and oxygen react.
Their atoms become chemically joined to each other.
Pure or impure?
• Elements and compounds are pure substances.
• Mixtures are impure substances.
• A mixture is a combination of two or more pure
substances.
• Mixtures are only physically combined, not chemically
bonded.
• Mixtures can be separated by physical separation
techniques.
Diamond
Pure or impure?
 Sulfur

Iron Iron Sulfide

Pure or impure?
Sea
Water
Pure or impure?
Beach Sand
Pure or impure?
Bottled Water
Pure or impure?
Rocks
Pure or impure?
Foam
Pure or impure?
 Elements are Names are
one word
always on the and often
periodic table! end in ‘ium’.

Compounds often Eg: sodium

chloride,
have two words
How to spot names:
hydrogen
sulfide, etc

different types
of substances Not all compounds
go by a two word
Eg: water,
ammonia,
methane,
name… etc

Mixtures have multiple

ingredients.