Atoms and elements

Science

Properties of elements

Metallic elements

Molecular elements

Common elements

Compounds and their formation

Chemical formulae

Naming compounds

A particle model of chemical reactions

In the Understanding Chemical Reactions unit, pupils will build on their knowledge of atoms, elements, and compounds to learn about how atoms rearrange to form new substances during chemical reactions.

In the Solid, Liquid and Gas States and Changes of State unit, pupils learned to categorise substances and understand particle behaviour during changes of state.

This unit explores the basic atomic model, the differences between atoms, elements, and compounds, and the varying physical and chemical properties of elements. It covers chemical symbols, formulae, SI units, and IUPAC nomenclature, emphasising their use in describing elements and compounds.

Atoms, elements and compounds

A pure substance contains only one type of chemical.

A property of a substance is a feature or characteristic that can be used to classify it, or describe how it behaves.

A physical property of a substance describes how a substance appears and behaves, e.g. boiling point.

A chemical property describes chemical changes that happen to a substance in chemical reactions to form new substances.

A thermal conductor is a substance that transfers heat from one place to another place.

An electrical conductor is a substance that allows a flow of charge (electrical current).

A malleable substance has the ability to be formed into a shape.

A brittle substance has the ability to break up easily.

A ductile substance has the ability to be pulled into a wire.

Molecules are made up of two or more atoms chemically bonded together. These are usually non-metals.

A monatomic element consists of only single atoms.

A diatomic element consists of two of the same type of atom chemically bonded together.

An element that shares some properties with metals and some properties with non-metals.

A substance made by a chemical reaction where two or more different elements chemically bond together.

A strong force that holds atoms together in a compound. A chemical bond takes lots of energy to overcome and break.

One or two letters used to represent a chemical element. The first letter is always a capital letter, e.g. Br represents bromine.

A representation of either the number of atoms or ratio of atoms of each element in a substance, e.g. H₂O is water = 2 x hydrogen + 1 x oxygen

Compound is made of a metal bonded to a sulfate group. The sulphate group is -SO₄.

Compound is made of a metal bonded to a carbonate group. The carbonate group is -CO₃.

Compound is made of a metal bonded to a nitrate group. The nitrate group is -NO₃.

Reactants are the elements or compounds before a reaction takes place. Reactants are found on the left-hand side of a chemical equation.

Products are the elements or compounds that are formed after a reaction has taken place.  Products are found on the right-hand side of a chemical equation.

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