Properties of elements
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the chemical and physical properties of different chemical elements.
Key learning points
- Elements are chemically pure, but can react together.
- Each element has a fixed melting point and boiling point.
- Each element has particular physical properties.
- Each element has particular chemical properties.
- The properties of elements are different from those of a single atom.
Keywords
Pure substance - A pure substance contains only one type of chemical.
Property - A property of a substance is a feature or characteristic that can be used to classify it, or describe how it behaves.
Physical property - A physical property of a substance describes how a substance appears and behaves, e.g. boiling point.
Chemical property - A chemical property describes chemical changes that happen to a substance in chemical reactions to form new substances.
Common misconception
Students often confuse the difference between chemical and physical properties.
A chemical property describes how an element will react with other substances. Physical properties describes the appearance and behaviour.
Teacher tip
It is a good idea to emphasise when teaching physical properties that they relate to the element alone, while chemical properties involve the element reacting with other substances.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In chemistry, what does it mean if a substance is described as 'pure'?
Q2.An element on the Periodic Table is made up of only one type of ...
Q3.Which statements explain why elements are considered to be pure substances?
Q4.A is a characteristic of something that helps us describe or identify it.
Q5.An example of a is the flavour of a lemon. It can be said to have a sour taste.
Q6.Which properties would be essential for making a saucepan?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why do elements have fixed melting and boiling points?
Q2.Which of the following are physical properties of an element?
Q3.Which of the following is not a physical property of an element?
Q4.A physical change is to reverse, e.g. melting or boiling. (Fill the blank with either difficult or easy)
Q5.True or false? In chemical reactions, new substances are always formed.
Q6.Every element has its own combination of properties.
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Properties of elements, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Properties of elements, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Atoms, elements and compounds unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.