Ngee Ann Secondary School

Secondary One Express

Science – Chemistry Module

Understanding Goals
1. Students will understand that a compound is formed when different elements are
chemically combined together.
2. Students will understand that compounds have different properties from its
constituent elements
3. Students will understand that the constituent elements of a compound are always
combined in a fixed proportion by mass
4. Students will understand that compounds can be broken down by chemical methods
only.

Engagement:
1. Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen elements chemically combined
together. What do the elements hydrogen and oxygen look like before they
combine to make water?

Hydrogen and oxygen both exist as gases at room temperature. Both of

the substances are colourless and odourless.

2. Hence, do elements keep their properties when they combine to make a

compound? Support your answer with another example.

The constituent elements do not keep their original properties when

they combine to form a compound. For instance, the constituent
elements of water – hydrogen and oxygen are gases at room
temperature, while water is liquid at room temperature. In addition,
oxygen supports combustion unlike water.

3. Electrolysis of water is the decomposition of water (H2O) into its constituent

elements - oxygen (O2) and hydrogen gas (H2) due to an electric current
being passed through the water.

From the information above, what might you infer about method used to
separate compounds into its elements?

Compounds can be separated into its elements using a chemical

method such as electrolysis or thermal decomposition.

1
Explore: Part One – “See the light!”
1. Observe the properties of a piece of magnesium. Describe properties such as
color, malleability, state of matter and any other properties that you observe.
Write your answers below.

The piece of magnesium has a silvery colour and a shiny surface. It is

solid room temperature. It is also malleable.

2. Using tongs, heat the piece of magnesium in the flame. DO NOT STARE AT
THE BRIGHT LIGHT. Record your observations.

Magnesium burns with a bright light.

3. Observe the end product from the burning of magnesium. Record your
observations about the substance formed in the space below.

White powdery substance is obtained at the end of burning process.

Note:
The burning of magnesium in air (combustion) can be represented by the following
chemical word equation:

Magnesium + Oxygen  Magnesium oxide.

Magnesium and Oxygen are known as reactants and magnesium oxide is the product.
Explore: Part Two – “The Gas of Life”

1. Fill the boiling tube with 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and observe the
liquid carefully. Write down properties such as color, density, smell, state of
matter and anything else you observe in the space below.

Hydrogen peroxide is a colourless liquid. Furthermore it has no

distinctive smell.

2. Place a small amount (1-2 spatula) of manganese dioxide into the boiling tube
provided. Place a rubber stopper loosely on the top of the boiling tube.

3. Light one end of the wooden splint and blow out the splint’s flame so that it
glows. Remove the rubber stopper and place the glowing end near the mouth
of the boiling tube.

4. Write all your observations of what happened to the hydrogen peroxide as the
manganese dioxide was added and what happened to the glowing splint.

As manganese dioxide was added, bubbles of gas observed. When

glowing splint is brought near the mouth of the test tube, it burst into
flames. This suggest the presence of oxygen.