Using Properties to Identify Substances

Using Properties to Identify Substances

All matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.

What do you remember about atoms?

​Prior Knowledge - Atoms

Atoms are the smallest unit of matter. There are different types of atoms, called elements, and each has its own set of unique properties. Atoms can combine to create new substances with its own set of properties!

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Atoms Build Everything!

Open Ended

Think about it: Someone offers you the choice between two fruit: an orange and a strawberry. You can make your choice based on which fruit you like better, but how do you know which fruit is which?

Just like you used properties to tell apart the two fruits, most substances can be identified by using properties!

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Properties Can Identify!

​​Discuss!

Iron pyrite is commonly called “fool’s gold” because it looks like real gold, but it is not valuable. Both fool’s gold and real gold may be found in the same area, but they have different properties.

Why would it be important for a miner to know about the properties of real gold and fool’s gold?

Drag and Drop

In the image, you see two substances labeled A and B before and after being placed into a cup of water. Based on our observations, complete the claim below by filling in the blanks:

Sample A and Sample B are ​

Placeholder

. We can explain this because Sample A ​

Placeholder

, while Sample B did not. If they were the same sample, we would expect ​

Placeholder

samples to do the same thing.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

different

dissolves

both

Properties you can observe without changing the identity of the substance are called physical properties.

Scientists use properties to identify substances.

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Physical Properties

These are determines when a substance changes into a whole new one.

​All substances have chemical properties, which can be used to determine how it can change form.

Chemical Properties

Hotspot

In the image are two nails before and after they were left out in the rain. Click on the nail that chemically changed due to the rain.

Poll

What do you think: are the two nails made of the same substance?

• Yes, they definitely are!

• No way!

• We need more information...

• How can you even tell??

Open Ended

Summarize: How can properties be used to identify a substance?