1. Learning Objective
To be able to:
Identify common elements and describe their properties
Key Words:
Element, Property, Symbol

2. What is an element? What is a compound? Sunday, 19 May 2019
Atoms and Elements
Date and title in books. You need a pen, pencil & ruler.
Starter Activity – 3 minutes
What is an element?
What is a compound?

3. Learning Outcomes State what is meant by the word “element”
(F)
Target 9-1
State what is meant by the word “element”
(F/H)
Target 4-9
Identify common elements by their chemical symbol
(H)
Target 5-9
Describe how the properties of compounds are different from the elements that make them up
Extension: Application of Knowledge
Target 8/9
Use particles to explain how a compound is formed.
Learning Outcomes

4. An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into two or more simpler substances by chemical means. Elements contain only one type of atom. A compound is a substance that is formed from two or more elements that are chemically bonded.

5. O O O
Oxygen is an element, it is made only of oxygen atoms. It cannot be broken down into any simpler substances. O O C O C
Carbon dioxide is a compound, it is made of carbon and oxygen atoms. O C O
It can be broken down in to the elements carbon and oxygen.

6. Every element has its own chemical symbol.

7. Sometimes the symbol is obvious, and comes from the English name
Sometimes the symbol is obvious, and comes from the English name. For Example:
O – Oxygen
C – Carbon
N – Nitrogen
He – Helium
Zn - Zinc

8. Sometimes the symbol is less obvious
Sometimes the symbol is less obvious. A lot of the symbols come from an element’s Latin name For Example:
Au – Gold (Aurum in Latin)
Ag – Silver (Argentum in Latin)
Pb – Lead (Plumbum in Latin)
K – Potassium (Kalium in Latin)
Fe – Iron (Ferrum in Latin)

9. Sometimes the symbol comes from a different language For Example:
Na – Sodium (Natpio in Greek)
W – Tungsten (Wolfram in German)
For your GCSE you will be expected to use the names and symbols of lots of different elements – but don’t worry! You will be given a periodic table in the exam.

10. Take a look at the iron… can you describe it’s properties?
Compounds often have properties that are quite different from the elements that make them up.
Use an iron block, rather than iron filings to explore the properties of iron with pupils.
Take a look at the iron… can you describe it’s properties?

11. Take a look at the sulphur… can you describe it’s properties?
Compounds often have properties that are quite different from the elements that make them up.
Take a look at the sulphur… can you describe it’s properties?

12. Practical
Heat the mixture of iron and sulphur over a Bunsen flame. Record your observations.

13. Take a look at the iron sulphide… can you describe it’s properties?
Compounds often have properties that are quite different from the elements that make them up.
Take a look at the iron sulphide… can you describe it’s properties?