Elements, Compounds, and Chemistry!
By: Morgan Cure
What is an Element/Compound:
What is an Element?
An element is a substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means. Also, elements are defined by the number of protons they possess. One example of an element is Calcium, since it is not combined with another element.
What is a Compound?
A compound is a chemical species that is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically which covalent or ionic bonds. An example of a compound is water or H2O, because there is more than one element listed.
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Element and Compound Properties:
What Happens to Element Properties When They Form Compounds?
Some nuclear properties such as radioactivity, and frequency of spectral lines that correspond to the ejection of electrons from non-valance shells of atoms can remain uncharged. They are usually drastically changed, or left behind entirely.
Are the Properties of a Compound the Same as the Elements That Form It?
No, they are all left behind and pick up new ones.
What Happens to the Properties if a Compound Separates Back to the Elements That Formed It?
They regain their original properties.
How are compounds formed/separated? can they be separated?
How Are They Formed?
Compounds are formed when two or more elements chemically combine.
How Are They Separated?
Compounds are separated by chemical processes such as breaking the bonds of the elements that makes the compound.
Can They Be Separated?
No, because elements are already in simplest form.
What are some similarities and differences between elements & compounds?
Similarities:
Some similarities between elements and compounds include:
- They are both made up of atoms
- They both have a chemical change
- and they are both part of physical science
Differences:
Some differences between elements and compounds include:
- Elements are represented by using symbols, but compounds are represented by using a formula
- Only 177 elements have been observed, but the number of compounds are endless
- and elements are pure substances, but compounds contains atoms of different elements that have been chemically combined
what are chemical formulas?
What Are They?
Chemical formulas are representations of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements. Some examples of this are:
- CaCl3
- NaCl
- H2O
- C3Ca
What Are Coefficients And Subscripts?
Coefficients:
Coefficients is a number in front of a term in a chemical equation to indicate how many molecules (or atoms) take part in the reaction. Some examples include:
- 2 H2+O2 --> 2 H20
- 2 Ca+O2 --> 2 CaO
(Bolded numbers are the coefficients.)
Subscripts:
Subscripts are their number of atoms in the preceding element. Some examples of subscripts include the following:
- H2O
- H2Cl
(Bolded numbers are the subscripts.)
How do you count elements and atoms in a chemical formula?
This is the Way You Count Elements and Atoms in a Chemical Formula!
Follow step by step, and you will be a pro at counting elements and atoms in chemical formulas in no time!
1. First, identify the elements in the chemical formula and write them down.
- Cl2C3SiF6
2. Second, you add the subscript (1) to the elements that do not have a subscript already.
- Cl2C3Si1F6
- Cl2C3Si1F6 2+3+1+6=12 atoms