Pure substances have a fixed composition and fixed properties.

They cannot be decomposed by

simple physical separation techniques.
Impure Substances are mixtures. They have variables composition and variable properties. They can
be separated into their components by various physical separation techniques. Pure substances can
be further classified into elements and compounds.
Elements are the simplest pure substances consisting of only one type of atom. They cannot be
broken down (or decomposed).
Compounds are also pure substances. They composed of 2 or more elements that are chemically
bonded together. They are composed of a fixed number of atoms of each component element. They
can be decomposed into their component element or into simpler compounds.
Lithosphere Solids and Rock found in the crust
Hydrosphere All the water (ocean, ice, lakes, and rivers) found on earth
Atmosphere Mixture of Gases
Biosphere All living things
Elements Compounds Mixtures
Oxygen (O) Water (H2O) Air
Sliver (Ag) Silver Oxide (Ag2O) Brass
Magnesium, (Mg) Magnesium Sulfide (MgS) Steel
Silicon (Si) Silicon Dioxide (SiO2 Sand
Homogeneous Mixture A mixture in which all the particles are uniformly distributed
Heterogeneous Mixture A mixture in which the particles are not uniformly distributed
Atom the smallest part of an element that can take part take part in a chemical reaction
Molecules The smallest part of a pure substance that can exist separately. Molecules are usually
composed of two or more atoms chemically bonded together. E.g. Helium and Argon
Ion- Charged atoms or charged molecules. Tons can be positively (Cations) or negatively (anions)
charged.
Protons Positively charged atoms Neutrons Have no charge Electrons Negatively charged
particles
Atomic Number Number of protons in the nucleus
Mass number Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Isotopes Atoms of an element that have different masses due to difference in the number of
neutrons present in the nucleus. E.g. Carbon
Octet- Elements that have 8 electrons in their outer shell
Valence shell - The outer shell of an atom
Metals lose electrons to achieve configuration. They form negative Ions. Non Metals gain
electrons. To achieve noble gas configuration they form negative ions.
Matter can be classified according to the state in which it is found at the temperature of 25. The
three states of matter are Solid, Liquid and Gas.
Particles in a solid:
Are constantly vibrating
Stay in fixed positions
Are close together
Particles in a liquid:
Slide around each other
Are close together
Particles in a gas are:
Moving fast
Far Apart







Changing of State
(a) How can a solid be changed to a liquid? Heating or Melting
(b) How can a liquid be changed to a gas? Heating or Boiling
(c) How can a liquid be changed to a gas? Cooling or Condensing
(d) How can a liquid be changed to a solid? Cooling or Freezing
Mixture Separated Process used Difference in
property which
enables
separation
Examples
Solid and Liquid Filtering Liquids of different
densities separate into different
layers
Decanting Clear solution poured
off after solids sink to the bottom
Particle Size Sediment from
wine
Dissolved solid in liquid Evaporation One component of
the mixture evaporates more
readily
Crystallisation liquid
evaporated off leaving crystals
Boiling
points/evaporation
(Volatility)
Salts and fresh
water salt water
Liquids dissolved in
liquid
Distillation & Fractional
Distillation (20-30) separation
of components with different
boiling points in a liquid mixture
by boiling the mixture
Boiling points Petroleum
fractions from
crude oil
Liquids that do not mix Separating Funnel Different densities Oil and water
Gases Liquefaction ( Cool Gases to
liquid) then fractional distillation
Gases have
different boiling
points
Nitrogen and
oxygen in the
air
Solid + Magnetic solid Magnetic Separation
Separation of components with
different magnetic properties by
passing the mixture through a
magnetic field
Magnetic Vs. Non-
Magnetic

Solid + Solid Sieving Passing components
according to size through a
perforated barrier
Particle size
Solids in liquid Centrifugation Use of a spinning
motion to separate components
of a mixture that have different
densities or exist in different
states
Different Densities Cream from
milk
Magnetic solid +
Magnetic solid
Chromatography Separation of
components with different
magnetic properties by passing
the mixture through a magnetic
field
Different magnetic
strengths
Chemical
laboratory