Atoms, Elements, and Compounds

Atoms, Elements, and Compounds

By Gordon Burnett Adaption of Lesson 6: A New Language From Living by Chemistry

Open Ended

Two bottles are on a shelf in a chemistry lab.

Both contain a shiny yellow metal.

Bottle A is labeled Au(s). Bottle B is labeled FeS₂(s).

What do you think the symbols on the bottles mean?

Open Ended

Two bottles are on a shelf in a chemistry lab.

Both contain a shiny yellow metal.

Bottle A is labeled Au(s). Bottle B is labeled FeS₂(s).

Do you think both bottles contain gold? Why or why not?

-define the terms element, compound, and aqueous.

-recognize whether a substance is an element or a compound based on its chemical formula or symbol.

-decipher (interpret) some basic chemical formulas and symbols.

Objectives

What do chemical names and symbols tell you about matter?

​Key Question

Key Question and Objectives

The Language of Chemistry

Element: A unique substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances through chemical processes. Elements serve as the building materials of all matter.

What is an element?

Open Ended

Quick Check 1

List one to three elements that you know from the periodic table.

Be ready to share out an answer!

Compound: A pure substance that is a chemical combination of two or more elements in a fixed ratio.

What is a compound?

Open Ended

Quick Check 2

Come up with one to three chemical compounds that you know the names of.

Be prepared to share out.

Challenge

Type the formula for the compound if you know it!

Hotspot

Click on all of the compounds in the image on the right.

Hotspot

Click on all of the elements in the image on the right.

CO₂ Carbon Dioxide

Ca₃P₂ Calcium Phosphide

Ba(NO₃)₂ Barium Nitrate

H₂O Dihydrogen Monoxide

Chemical formula:
A combination of symbols and subscripts (the small lower numbers) that indicates the number and types of elements in a compound.

So what is a formula really?

Phase:
The physical form a substance is in, such as solid (s), liquid (l), or gas (g). Phase is greatly influenced by temperature.

What do those other symbols we might see with a formula mean?

Aqueous:
A substance is aqueous when it is dissolved in water (aq).

THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING A LIQUID!!!

Multiple Choice

How many types of elements are included in the formula for potassium chlorate, formula KClO₃?

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Multiple Choice

How many atoms are there in the formula for potassium chlorate, formula KClO₃?

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Open Ended

Imagine that you find a vial labeled Na₂SO₄(aq). What does the label tell you about what is in this vial? List all of the information that you can think of.