8F Summary Sheets

Elements
An element is a simple substance that cannot be split into anything simpler by chemical reactions.
Atoms are the smallest particles of an element. Atoms of one element are all the same, and are
different from atoms of all the other elements.
All the elements are shown in the periodic table. There are 117 known elements. Each element 8
has a chemical symbol, which is usually one or two letters. A symbol is written with the first letter F
as a capital, and the second letter lower case, for example

oxygen – O carbon – C iron – Fe aluminium – Al

Compounds
Elements can join together to make compounds. The name of the compound tells you the
elements that are in it. Compounds made from two elements always have a name that ends
in ‘-ide’.

These elements join together… …to make these compounds

carbon, oxygen carbon dioxide
sodium, chlorine sodium chloride
magnesium, oxygen magnesium oxide

A chemical formula tells you the name and number of atoms in a compound. The smallest
particle of many compounds is called a molecule. Molecules are made up of groups of atoms.
Some elements are also made of molecules. For example, a molecule of oxygen contains two
oxygen atoms joined together. The formula is O2. Water contains two atoms of hydrogen and one
of oxygen. The formula is H2O.

Elements Compounds Mixtures

atoms of helium (He) molecules of carbon dioxide a mixture of helium and oxygen
(CO2)

molecules of oxygen (O2) molecules of water (H2O) a mixture of carbon dioxide and
oxygen

a lump of iron (Fe) a lump of sodium chloride (NaCl) a lump of bronze

(a mixture of copper and tin)

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 8F Summary Sheets (continued)

Metals and non-metals

The properties of a substance describe the way the substance behaves, or measurements that we
can make on it. Metals and non-metals have different properties.

8 Metals Non-Metals
F good conductors of heat and electricity
shiny
poor conductors of heat and electricity
dull
solids with a high melting point (except for most are solids or gases
mercury)
Mainly found on the left-hand side and in the centre found on the right-hand side of the periodic table
of the periodic table
three metals are magnetic no non-metals are magnetic
flexible brittle (break easily instead of bending)

Re-use and recycling

Materials can be classified according to their properties. All the different materials in the world are
made up of about 90 different elements. Some useful materials occur naturally, but others have
to be manufactured using chemical reactions. In many cases, raw materials are non-renewable. If
we can recycle these materials, then we reduce the demand for raw materials. There may also be
energy savings as well. A process that uses recycled or renewable materials is sustainable. Waste
can also be reduced by re-using objects such as glass bottles or plastic bags.

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 8F Level Ladder
Name Class Date

My Target Level is: My final level is:

Tick the boxes that apply. Or use traffic lights to show how confident you are (red = ‘I don’t know 8
this’; orange = ‘I’m not very confident about this’; green = ‘I’m confident I know this’). F
Level At the end of the Unit: I can do this This needs
more work
Working towards Level 4
Identify some materials that are metals.

Follow instructions and work safely during practical work.

Recall the names of some metals.

Level 4
Explain why we recycle materials.

Describe how the periodic table is used to classify the

elements.
Use secondary sources to select information on materials
and their properties.
Discuss ideas on resources and recycling.

Recall that there are only a relatively small number of

elements and some of their names.
Level 5
Know the difference between chemical symbols for
elements and compounds.
Name a variety of common compounds using scientific
terminology.
Explain that when atoms of different elements combine,
compounds are made.
Carry out a number of practical methods using a range of
apparatus, being aware of the hazards involved.
Use practical evidence and/or secondary sources to classify
materials as metals and non-metals, or as elements and
compounds.
Represent elements using chemical symbols.

Explain the benefits and drawbacks associated with

recycling.
Explain how the periodic table is organised.

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 8F Level Ladder (continued)

Level At the end of the Unit: I can do this This needs

more work
Level 6
Explain the concept of sustainable development.

8 Plan to collect valid and reliable results.

F Use word equations for chemical reactions.

Identify some elements whose properties do not fit the

general patterns of the periodic table.
Level 7
Use chemical formulae to represent chemical compounds.

Work out a chemical formula from a molecular diagram,

and vice versa.
Evaluate evidence, explaining why or why it is not good
evidence.
Level 8
Explain why the periodic table is a more successful
classification than some of the preceding attempts
Predict the properties of elements by looking at the
properties of other elements in the same group

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 8F Word Sheets
8Fa – Sorted!/The material world
Word Pronunciation Meaning
alchemists al-kem-ists Scientists (originally Arabic) who carried out the first
experiments to make a range of new substances.
classify Placing things in their groups according to their
characteristics.
8
element All the atoms in an element are the same. A substance
F
that cannot be split up into anything simpler by chemical
reactions.
recycling ree-sy-cling Using a material again, often by melting it and using it to
make new objects.

8Fb – Elementary
Word Pronunciation Meaning
atom The smallest particle of an element that can exist.
mixture Two or more different kinds of particles that are jumbled
up with each other but not chemically joined to each
other.
periodic table peer-ee-od-ick Table that shows all the elements, arranged in a regular
order to show patterns in properties.
symbol The letter or letters that represent an element.

8Fb – Focus on: Mendeleev’s patience

No new words

8Fc – Metal detecting

Word Pronunciation Meaning
electrical conductor Something that allows electricity to flow through it easily.
heat conductor Something that allows heat to flow through it easily.
high melting point Something with a high melting point has to be at a very
high temperature before it melts. It is a solid at room
temperature.
insulator A material which does not let energy flow through it easily.
low boiling point Something with a low boiling point will boil and turn into
a gas at a relatively low temperature. It can be a solid, a
liquid or a gas at room temperature.
low melting point Something with a low melting point turns into a liquid at
a relatively low temperature. It can be a solid, a liquid or a
gas at room temperature.
magnetic A material that is attracted to a magnet.
metals Elements that are shiny, conduct heat and electricity well,
and often have high melting and boiling points.

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 8F Word Sheets (continued)

8Fc – Metal detecting (continued)

Word Pronunciation Meaning
non-metals Elements that are not shiny, and do not conduct heat and
electricity well.
8 properties A description of how a material behaves and what it is like.
Hardness is a property of some solids.
F shiny Reflects light well.

8Fd – Compound interest

Word Pronunciation Meaning
chemical formula A combination of symbols and numbers that shows the
ratio of the different kinds of atom that are in a particular
compound.
compounds Substances that can be split up into simpler substances. A
compound contains the atoms of two or more elements
joined together.
molecule Two or more atoms joined together.
oxide A compond that includes oxygen.

8Fe – Re-use, renew, recycle

Word Pronunciation Meaning
bauxite bork-site Mineral (ore) that contains alumimium oxide-the main
source of aluminium.
clear See-through or transparent.
colourless Something that has no colour.
electrolysis e-leck-troll-ee-sis Splitting up a compound by passing an electric current
through it.
re-use When an object is used again, without being broken up or
recycled.
renewable A material or energy source that will not run out.
sustainable sus-tane-a-bull A process that allows things to continue as they are.

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 8G Summary Sheets
Compounds and mixtures
Elements are simple substances that cannot be split up in chemical reactions. Atoms are the
smallest particles of an element that can exist. Atoms in an element are all the same. Each element
has its own chemical symbol. For example, the chemical symbol for oxygen is O. The symbols and
names for all the known elements are shown in the periodic table.

Some elements have their atoms joined to each other in small

an atom of another atom
groups called molecules. Oxygen is an example.
8 oxygen of oxygen

G
Elements can join together to make compounds. A compound O O
contains two or more elements joined together by bonds. The
name of the compound tells you the elements that are in it. A molecule of oxygen consists of
Compounds made from two elements always have a name that two oxygen atoms joined
together.
ends in ‘-ide’.

Many compounds exist as atoms attached to each other in small groups – molecules.

H H

A molecule of water (hydrogen)

A compound always contains the same elements in the same ratio. The chemical formula of a
compound tells you the ratio of atoms of each element that are bonded together. For compounds
that are molecules it tells you the numbers of atoms of each element in a compound. Each
element in the chemical formula is shown by its
chemical symbol. For example: the symbol for the symbol
hydrogen for oxygen

The properties of a compound are different

from the elements that make it up. For example,
H2O
hydrogen is an explosive gas and oxygen will No number after a symbol
2 atoms of means that there is only one
relight a glowing splint, but water is a liquid that hydrogen atom of that element.
will put fires out.

Chemical reactions
Compounds can be made to react by mixing them with other chemicals, or by using heat or
electricity. You can tell that a chemical reaction has occurred if there is a colour change or when a
gas is given off.

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 8G Summary Sheets (continued)

Most chemical reactions also involve an energy change. This is usually in the form of heat, for
example in burning (combustion).

In a chemical reaction a new substance is always formed. Most chemical reactions are not easily
reversed (they are irreversible).

Some chemical reactions take place just by mixing substances together. (e.g. when a solid (a
precipitate) forms by mixing two liquids in a precipitation reaction). Other chemical reactions
need energy to start them off. (e.g. when some compounds are broken up, decomposed, by 8
heat). G
Word equations show what happens in a chemical reaction. The chemicals that you start with are
called the reactants. The chemicals at the end are called the products. For example:

magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide

{
Physical changes
reactants
{
In a physical change no new substance is formed and the
product

melting evaporating

changes are usually easily reversed. Melting, evaporating, ice water steam

condensing and freezing are all examples of physical changes.

freezing condensing
Mixtures
Elements and compounds can also be mixed together. A mixture is easier to separate than the
elements in a compound. Soil, river water and sea water are examples of mixtures that occur
naturally. A pure substance contains a single substance, element or compound, nothing else.

Elements and compounds melt and boil at a fixed temperature. Mixtures do not have definite
melting points and boiling points.

Alloys
Alloys are mixtures of metals with one or more other elements. Alloys have different properties
from the pure metal. Pure gold is too soft for making jewellery. An alloy of gold mixed with other
metals, like copper or silver, is used because it is stronger. The original method used to measure
the purity of gold alloys was the carat system. One carat is 1 part in 24. So pure gold is 24 carats
and 12 carat gold contains 50% gold.

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 8G Level Ladder
Name Class Date

My Target Level is: My final level is:

Tick the boxes that apply. Or use traffic lights to show how confident you are (red = ‘I don’t know
this’; orange = ‘I’m not very confident about this’; green = ‘I’m confident I know this’).

8 Level At the end of the Unit: I can do this This needs

more work
G Working towards Level 4
Recall the meaning of the words melt and freeze.

Follow instructions and work safely during practical work.

Identify changes as chemical or physical.

Level 4
Spot the difference between different ways of showing
some common elements, compounds and mixtures.
Use a range of measurement methods to carry out a
practical investigation.
Measure mass and temperature.

Recognise when a substance changes state.

Level 5
Use particles diagrams to tell the difference between
elements, compounds and mixtures.
Describe on the best way to do a range of tasks, including
selecting sources of information and apparatus.
Present data from investigations as line graphs.

Recognise chemical reactions as changes in which atoms

join together in new ways.
Recall that melting and boiling are changes of state that
happen at fixed temperatures.
Level 6
Use the particle model to explain changes of state.

Use ideas about atoms and bonding to explain why a

substance is classified as an element, compound or mixture.
Evaluate an investigation and suggest improvements to
methods.
Identify elements and simple compounds from their
symbols or formulae.
Use word equations for chemical reactions.

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 8G Level Ladder (continued)

Level At the end of the Unit: I can do this This needs

more work
Level 7
Use simple chemical formulae to work out the types and
numbers of atoms in a compound.
Use ideas about bonding and particles to explain why
mixtures do not have fixed melting and boiling points.
State that a compound always contains the same elements
in fixed proportions.
Suggest additional practical work to test conclusions. 8
Level 8 G
Represent chemical reactions using balanced symbol
equations.
Predict purity of a substance based on melting point
information.

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 8G Word Sheets
8Ga – All that glitters/The elements of jewellery/Fool’s gold
Word Pronunciation Meaning
atom The smallest part or particle of an element.
bond Attraction holding atoms together.
chemical formula A combination of symbols and numbers that shows the
ratio of the different kinds of atom that are in a particular
compound.
compound Substance that can be split up into simpler substances.
It contains the elements of two or more atoms joined
together. 8
element A substance that cannot be split up into anything simpler G
by chemical reactions.
minerals An element or compound that is found naturally on, or in,
rocks.
molecule Two or more atoms joined together.
oxide A compound that contains oxygen.
periodic table A table showing all the elements.

8Gb – Different changes

Word Pronunciation Meaning
decompose Break down into simpler parts.
precipitate pres-sip-it-tate Insoluble solid produced by mixing two solutions.
precipitation pres-sip-it-tay-shun Chemical reaction which forms a solid by mixing two
solutions.

8Gc – Pure dead brilliant

Word Pronunciation Meaning
mixture Two or more different kinds of particles that are jumbled
up with each other and not chemically joined to each
other.
pure A single substance that does not have anything else in it.

8Gd – The gold standard

Word Pronunciation Meaning
alloy A metal with one or more other elements mixed in.
ductile Able to be stretched into a thin wire.
malleable Able to be easily hammered into different shapes.
unreactive Differcult to get to react with other materials.

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 8G Word Sheets (continued)

8Gd – Focus on: Electric jewellery

Word Pronunciation Meaning
electrodes Solid conductors of electricity attached to a power supply
in electrolysis.
electrolysis Passing electricity through a compound when it is molten
or in solution to break it down.
electroplating Putting a thin coating of a metal onto another metal using
8 electrolysis.

G
8Ge – Melt it down/The price of gold
Word Pronunciation Meaning
boiling point The point at which a liquid rapidly turns into a gas. When
a liquid is at its boiling point it is as hot as it can get. It is
evaporating as fast as it can.
evaporate When a liquid turns into a gas.
freezing point The temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid.
melting point The temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid.

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