What's the Matter?

 

animated atom

Take a look at your notebook right now. Draw a square on it that is roughly 2cm on each side. Now divide that into 10 sections. Take one of those 10 pieces and divide it into 10. Now take one of those 10 and divide it into 10. Getting harder? If we did this 6 more times, we'd have a piece of paper the size of an atom! That's small! To think of it a different way, it would take 100 million atoms lined up side by side to equal the width of the 2cm2 piece of paper you started with!

If we continued to divide that up, we'd get down to the size of even smaller subatomic particles that make up an atom: protons, neutrons, and electrons. All mattercluetip is made up of atoms and the subatomic particles that compose an atomcluetip.

Atoms combine to form...

Click each picture below.

  • Elements
  • Compounds
  • Molecules
  • Elements
    A fundamental substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means. Examples include sulfur, copper, gold, and silver.
  • Compounds
    Combinations of two or more elements held together in fixed proportions. Water is an example of a compound.
  • Molecules
    A combination of two or more atoms of different elements held together by chemical bonds. Carbon dioxide and methane gas are examples of molecules. Lipids like butter or plastics, which are polymers, are also examples.

 

Webquest: The Periodic Table

webquestWebquest: The Periodic Table

 

In the following webquest activity, you will be researching different forms of the periodic table to discover how it is organized. In addition, you will be learning about the atomic number, atomic mass and isotopes.

Download the Webquest: The Periodic Table worksheet to get started.

 

Tutorial: Chemistry Review

Tutorial: Chemistry Review

 

Click the image below to watch the tutorial.

 

forms of matter Image

Text Version

Matter Review

Matter Review

 

Step through the slideshow below.

 

Atomic Theory
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Atomic Theory
The most well known theory proposed by John Dalton states that all matter is made of atoms and that they cannot be subdivided or destroyed by chemical means. In addition atoms with particular characteristics are called elements and can combine to form complex structures such as compounds.
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  • The most well known theory proposed by John Dalton states that all matter is made of atoms and that they cannot be subdivided or destroyed by chemical means. In addition atoms with particular characteristics are called elements and can combine to form complex structures such as compounds.
  • A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
  • A negatively charged subatomic particle found circulating around the outside of the nucleus of an atom.
  • This subatomic particle has no charge and is found in the nucleus along side the protons.
  • The periodic table is a list of all the known elements on earth. It is organized in increasing atomic number.
  • These are isotopes of hydrogen. Isotopes are different atoms of the same element having a different number of neutrons. The most common form of hydrogen has no neutrons, deuterium has one and tritium has two.
  • This is the ratio of elements that bind together. For instance H2O is the chemical formula for water. This means we have two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom in this molecule.
  • Methane, CH4; is among the simplest organic compounds. One or more atoms of carbon are covalently bonded to atoms of other elements, most often hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen.
  • A chemical compound containing carbon and other elements. Carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO)

 

Text Version

There is No "Away"

 

Atoms cannot be created or destroyed. This is a  scientific law the law of conservation of matter. So when we throw our trash away, recycle it or compost it, what happens to it? As you can see, there is no "away". Matter can be converted from one form to another, like oranges to soil, but atoms cannot be created or destroyed.

Plastic bags in trash

When you throw plastic garbage away, it might get shredded, torn up, or buried. Since the atoms in the plastic stay as they are, this is considered a physical change.

When you crush glass into smaller pieces, there are no changes made to the arrangement of atoms in the glass. This is a physical change.

Compost Soil

Composting an orange is an example of a chemical change. The atoms and molecules in the orange rearrange such that the orange eventually turns into fertile soil.

 

Kinetic and Potential Energy: Go for the Gold!

 

The universe is made up of more than just matter. Energy keeps us moving and fuels all the work we do. Athletes at the Olympics depend upon maximizing their energy to get that coveted gold medal. Take a look at the video "The Science of Snowboarding" to learn more about the ways in which snowboarders maximize their potential and kinetic energy.

Click the link to watch the YouTube Video: The Science of Snowboarding

Text Version




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When Shaun White is speeding down the side of the half pipe, what type of energy is he displaying?

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is moving energy. Flying down the half pipe is an example of kinetic energy. Other types of kinetic energy include heat, which comes from the movement of atoms, molecules, or ions in a substance, and electromagnetic energy, which is light.

Waiting on the lip of the half pipe to drop in, what kind of energy is maximized?                                 

Potential Energy

Potential energy is stored energy. Think of all the potential speed a snowboarder has perched on the lip of the half pipe!

 

The Laws of Thermodynamics

 

open quoteIf your theory is against the second law of thermodynamics,
I can give you no hope.close quote

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Gas Gauge

One morning, as you hop in the car to drive to school, you notice that the fuel gauge shows almost no gas left in the car, yet you shrug and assume you'll make it anyway. About halfway to school, you run out of gas completely. However, surprisingly, your car continues to function, driving nearly 10 more miles to get you to school!

Why can't this happen? What law of the universe is being violated?

Answer
Drinking hot cocoa

Imagine making yourself a nice hot cup of cocoa and then…the phone rings. When you finish with the phone call, you take a sip and – OUCH! – the cocoa is even hotter than when you left it to answer the phone, but it's just been sitting on the kitchen counter for the past 10 minutes!

Can this happen? What law of the universe is being broken?

Answer