Compounds & mixtures

Mixture
• When two or more elements are mixed
together without joining up,a mixture is
formed.
As we know all substances are made up of
small particles, atoms & molecules.Elements
are made up of only one kind of atoms.
Iron is an element as it contains only iron
atoms.Sulphur is an element as it contains
only sulphur atoms.
 Mixture/Compound

• A mixture can usually be separated easily.A

mixture of iron & sulphur can be separated by
using a magnet to attract the iron particles.
When atoms of different elements join
together they form a compound.
 Compound
• Forming a compounds
from its elements is called
combination or
synthesis.
When a mixture of iron or
sulphur is heated,each
iron atom joins up with a
sulphur atom to form a
molecule of iron
sulphide.
Compounds can’t be
separated easily.
 Did you know?
Mixtures are examples of • Compounds are
a physical change. examples of a chemical
No new substances are change.
made. A completely new
The change is usually substance is made.
easy to reverse. The change is usually
difficult to reverse.
• Compounds are usually different from the
elements that make them.This is a good thing
because our bodies are made up of lots of
different elements,some of which are very
dangerous.
Some examples are chlorine,calcium,sodium &
potassium react violently with water
producing explosive hydrogen gas,&
phosphorus which catches fire when it is
dry.Fortunately these elements are joined
together to form harmless compounds.
 Formula of compounds
• The atoms in all the different compounds have
their own way of combining.In every chemical
reaction millions & millions of atoms are
involved.However,when they combine the
atoms always follow a simple pattern.
For example, when iron & sulphur join to
make iron sulphide,each iron atom joins with
one sulphur atom.
When hydrogen & oxygen combine to make
water,two hydrogen atoms join with one
oxygen atom.This means we can give each
compound its own Formula.
 Formula
• Formula is a simple
way of telling us which
atoms & how many
atoms, combine to
make compound.
 Did you know?
• The products of a chemical change may have
very different properties from the chemical
properties of the elements from which they
are made.
For example, Hydrogen sulphide ( rotten egg
gas) is much more poisonous than either
hydrogen or sulphur.
 Breaking compounds

• Separating the elements that make up a

compound is not easy,but it can be done.
Decomposition is the breaking up of a single
compound into two or more simpler products.
Energy is needed to break the chemical bonds
holding the compound together.This can be
provided by using heat,light or electricity.
 Thermal decomposition

• This involves the use of

heat to break down a
compound.When
copper carbonate is
heated,it changes from
a green to black
powder.Carbon dioxide
is given off.
 Decomposition by light
• Photographic film & X-ray film have a thin
coating of a compound called silver
chloride.When a photograph or X-ray is
taken,light falls onto the silver chloride &
breaks it down to produce black crystals of
silver.Chlorine gas is given off.(Don’t worry,the
amounts are miniscule).The black shapes on a
photographic negative or X-ray contain small
amounts of silver.
Decomposition by light
 Did you know?

• Movie films use a film with a sandwich of

three coloured dyes: red sensitive, blue
sensitive, and green sensitive, with the silver
compound in the gelatine.
When the film is developed, the three dyes
produce the colour while the silver produces
the image.
 Breaking down compounds with
living organisms

• Living organisms digest their food using

enzymes.For example,starch molecules are
broken down by enzymes into smaller glucose
molecules.Later,the glucose molecules are
broken down during respiration into smaller
carbon dioxide & water molecules.
Breaking down compounds
using electricity
Electrolysis
 Electrolysis

• Electricity can provide the energy required to

break down a compound.This process is called
Electrolysis.
For electrolysis to work, the compound must
have the charged particles called ions and
either be in solution or liquid ( molten) state
so the ions can move freely.
 The electrolysis of copper chloride
solution
• The solution has two electrodes in it.The
cathode(-ve) & anode(+ve).In this case both are
made of carbon. In
solution, copper chloride splits into positive
copper ions(+) & negative chloride ions(-).The
copper ions(+) are attracted to the cathode(-)
where they collect electrons,become
uncharged,and form a layer of copper.At the
same time,the chloride ions (-)are attracted to
the anode (+)where they lose electrons & form
chlorine gas.
 Did you know?

• Aluminium,calcium,sodium & magnesium are

all produced from their compounds by
electrolysis.
The liquid through which electricity is passed
during electrolysis is called the Electrolyte.
Energy changes in
chemical reactions
 Exothermic reaction
• A chemical reaction that
gives out energy in the
form of heat is called an
Exothermic reaction.
Many chemical reactions
produce large amounts of
energy. The
photograph shows some
water being dropped onto
anhydrous copper
sulphate. So much heat is
produced that some of
the water turns to steam.
• In many exothermic reactions energy has to
be supplied to start the reaction, but once it
has started, a lot more energy is produced.
One of its example is striking a match.As a
match is rubbed along a rough surface ,move-
ment energy is passed to the chemicals in the
match head.This increases the energy of the
chemicals & match sparks.
The chemical reaction is started. As the match
burns, it transfers energy as heat & light & the
energy of the chemical decreases.
Exothermic/Endothermic reaction
 Endothermic reaction

• Some chemical reactions need to take in

energy to keep going.These are called
Endothermic reactions.
Cooking is a good example of an endothermic
reaction.In order to cook food , heat has to be
continuously provided by the stove.
 Did you know?

• Any chemical reaction that feels cold is an

endothermic reaction.
Sucking mints is an endothermic reaction.
Energy is taken from your mouth and is used
to digest the sweet . Sucking mints gives your
mouth the feeling of being cool.
 A mixture called air

• Air is a mixture of gases.The main gases are

nitrogen (79%),oxygen(20%) & carbon dioxide
(0.04%).Other gases present in very small
amounts are helium,neon,argon,krypton &
xenon.These are called noble gases & they are
unreactive.
Proportion of gases in the air
Uses of nitrogen gas

• It doesn’t burn or allow

things to burn in
it.Doesn’t react easily
with other elements.
Liquid nitrogen is so
cold that it freezes food
immediately.
Structure of nitrogen gas
Uses of oxygen gas
• Oxygen gas is used for
breathing,not only by
human beings & animals
but also by plants.
It is used in hospitals to
assist breathing in many
diseases.
Oxygen cylinders are used
for breathing by
astronauts & underwater
divers too.
• Oxygen doesn’t burn
but help other
substances to burn.
It produces very hot
flames & used in
industry for cutting
,melting &welding
metals.
Uses of carbon dioxide gas

• Carbon dioxide gas is

used to produce the
‘fizz’ in cola.
CO2 as a fire extinguisher
• Carbon dioxide gas
doesn’t burn & puts out
things which are
burning.Thats why it is
used to extinguish most
types of fire.As it is denser
than air & settles down on
the fire,putting it down.
Uses of argon
• As argon( a noble gas)
doesn’t burn or allow
other things to burn in
it, it is used in filling
light bulbs.
With argon surrounding
it , the wire filament
can get very hot
without burning.
Did you know?
• The gases in the air can
be separated by
Fractional distillation.
Air is 1st liquified then
distilled.Each gas has a
different boiling point.
Nitrogen boils at -196C,
oxygen at -183C.
 Fractional distillation

• As the temperature of the liquid is raised,

each gas is collected as it turns into vapours.
The separation of air by distillation is a proof
that air is a mixture.