Chemical Building Blocks
Introduction to Matter
Elements can be chemically combined to make compounds with entirely different chemical and physical properties than the elements that went into putting them together. For example hydrogen and oxygen are both flammable gasses, but when combined to make water, they put fire out. Elements and compounds can combine physically to make mixtures. Mixtures can be heterogeneous or homogeneous and their exact composition can be less precise than a compound. Matter contains energy and can be greatly changed if energy is gained or lost. Changes in bonds correlate with changes in chemical energy. Changes in thermal energy correlate with phase changes. Click on the descriptions below to be taken to outside resources that may be helpful.
Elements can be chemically combined to make compounds with entirely different chemical and physical properties than the elements that went into putting them together. For example hydrogen and oxygen are both flammable gasses, but when combined to make water, they put fire out. Elements and compounds can combine physically to make mixtures. Mixtures can be heterogeneous or homogeneous and their exact composition can be less precise than a compound. Matter contains energy and can be greatly changed if energy is gained or lost. Changes in bonds correlate with changes in chemical energy. Changes in thermal energy correlate with phase changes. Click on the descriptions below to be taken to outside resources that may be helpful.
Phases of Matter
As substances gain energy, their particles vibrate faster and eventually break free from their positions. This causes matter to change from a solid to a liquid to a gas. Gasses have a lot of space between their particles which causes them to have unique properties. Boyle's law explains that as you push on a gas (increase pressure) the volume of the gas will decrease. Charles' law says that as you increase the temperature of a gas, its volume will increase. In most real word situations, temperature, pressure, and volume all change at the same time, but we can use these principles to make a good prediction of what will happen to any of the 3 variables.
As substances gain energy, their particles vibrate faster and eventually break free from their positions. This causes matter to change from a solid to a liquid to a gas. Gasses have a lot of space between their particles which causes them to have unique properties. Boyle's law explains that as you push on a gas (increase pressure) the volume of the gas will decrease. Charles' law says that as you increase the temperature of a gas, its volume will increase. In most real word situations, temperature, pressure, and volume all change at the same time, but we can use these principles to make a good prediction of what will happen to any of the 3 variables.
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Atoms and the Periodic Table
Atoms are the building blocks of matter. Our bodies and our world are made up of various combinations of the 100 or different types of naturally occurring atoms called elements. Atoms, however, are made of even smaller particles called protons, electrons, and neutrons. Atoms are arranged into rows and column on the periodic table. Properties are similar in each column and change in a pattern across a row. The heaviest element which can be found toward the bottom of the periodic table have the added similarity of being radioactive, though some isotopes of smaller atoms are radioactive as well.
Atoms are the building blocks of matter. Our bodies and our world are made up of various combinations of the 100 or different types of naturally occurring atoms called elements. Atoms, however, are made of even smaller particles called protons, electrons, and neutrons. Atoms are arranged into rows and column on the periodic table. Properties are similar in each column and change in a pattern across a row. The heaviest element which can be found toward the bottom of the periodic table have the added similarity of being radioactive, though some isotopes of smaller atoms are radioactive as well.
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