IV.

Elements and compounds Page 1

Topic IV. Elements and compounds

Reading Integrated Chemistry Today (2nd Ed.), L.H.M Chung, Book 1A, pg 62–67
Assignment

Objectives 1.4
– recognise that oxygen, silicon and aluminium are the three most abundant elements on the earth's crust
– recognise the abundance of oxygen in elemental form on earth is unique amongst the planets in the solar
system
– recognise that silicon and aluminium exit in nature in combined forms called compounds and thus the
elements are less readily available for use
– recognise that most substances are compounds or their mixtures
– describe the differences between compounds and mixture of elements

Notes IV. Elements and compounds

A. Natural abundance of different elements

In the universe, hydrogen is the most abundant element, it accounts for over 99% of the mass of the universe. e.g.
the whole mass of sun is mainly made of hydrogen.

Earth

Earth is very special in the universe. It contains only very few hydrogen.

Oxygen is the most abundant element on the earth. Free oxygen can be found in air in form of O2 molecule.
Oxygen is also a major composition of water (H2O) and rock (SiO2).

Although there are plenty of aluminium and silicon on the earth, the pure aluminium and silicon never exists in
nature. Aluminium metal is extracted from an ore called bauxite (aluminium oxide, Al2O3) and silicon is
extracted from silicon(IV) oxide (SiO2) which is the major composition of rock.

B. Existence of element in elemental form and combined form

Only very few elements exist in pure and uncombined form. Gold is one of them. And this is why gold is one of
the firstly discovered elements in history. For the other elements, they must be chemically extracted from the
compound and physically purified.
IV. Elements and compounds Page 2

C. Element, compound and mixture

Element – A substance contains only one kind of atoms. e.g. Aluminium is an element because it contains only
aluminium atom.
Compound – A substance which is pure and contains more than one kind of atom chemically combined together.
e.g. Water (H2O) is a compound because it consists of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms with the
ratio of 2 : 1.
Mixture – A substance contains more than one pure substance which are not chemically combined together.
e.g. sea water is a mixture. It can be separated into water and salt by distillation.

Compounds Mixture of elements

Composition constant composition variable composition (no formula can be
e.g. in water (H2O), the ratio of H atom to assigned.)
O atom is 2 to 1. e.g. different stainless steels contain
different amount of iron and carbon.
Composition by constant composition variable composition
mass e.g. in water, the mass of H atom to O atom
is 1 : 16 and the number ratio is 2 : 1,
therefore, the mass of hydrogen to oxygen
in water would always be 1 : 8.
Melting point a sharp melting point because it is pure. a wide melting range because it is not pure.
Separation of constituents can only be separated by constituents can be separated by physical
constituents chemical method (e.g. electrolysis) method (e.g. distillation, filtration)
Heat change of usually heat is evolved or absorbed upon no heat change involved.
formation formation
Properties properties of the compound is so different individual elements retain their own
from the constituent elements properties.

Example of Iron(II) sulphide

Compound of iron(II) sulphide Mixture of iron filing and sulphur
powder
Composition ratio of Fe atom to S atom is 1 : 1. no fixed composition
Separation cannot be separated easily. can be separated by a piece of magnet or by
decantation because of the difference in
density in water.
Heat change of heat is evolved. no heat change involved.
formation
Arrangement of iron and sulphur atoms are rearranged and iron and sulphur atoms separate from each
atoms combine together other

Glossary bauxite silicon(IV) oxide compound mixture

IV. Elements and compounds Page 3

Past Paper
Questions

98 44
B 44 Upon heating, a mixture of iron and sulphur gives a black
substance. Which of the following statements concerning
the black substance are correct ?
(1) It is insoluble in water.
(2) It can be attracted by a bar magnet.
(3) It reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give a gas with
a pungent smell.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

99 1
B 1 Which of the following diagrams can represent a mixture of
two compounds ?
(In these diagrams and represent a nitrogen atom and
an oxygen atom respectively.)