Lesson 3
Elements and Compounds
Focus Question
What are elements and compounds?
New Vocabulary
element
periodic table
compound
law of definite proportions
percent by mass
law of multiple proportions
Review Vocabulary
proportion: the relation of one part to another
or to the whole with respect to quantity
Elements
• An element is a pure substance that cannot
be separated into simpler substances by
physical or chemical means.
• On Earth, more than 90 elements occur
naturally. There are also several elements that
have been developed by scientists.
• Each element has a unique chemical name
and symbol.
Elements
• The periodic table organizes the elements
into a grid of horizontal rows called periods
and vertical columns called groups or families.
• Elements in the same group have similar
chemical and physical properties.
• The table is called periodic because the
pattern of similar properties repeats from
period to period.
Compounds
• A compound is made up of two or more
different elements that are combined
chemically in a fixed ratio.
• Most matter in the universe exists as
compounds.
• Table salt (NaCl) and water (H2O) are
compounds.
Compounds
• Unlike elements, compounds can be broken
down into simpler substances by chemical
means.
• Separating a compound into its elements
often requires external energy, such as heat
or electricity.
Compounds
• Electrolysis is shown
on the left. This
process is used to
chemically change
water into its
component
elements—hydrogen
and oxygen.
Compounds
• The properties of a compound are different
from its component elements.
Example:
When water is broken down, its
components—hydrogen and oxygen—are
dramatically different than the liquid they form
when combined.
Law of Definite Proportions
• The law of definite proportions states that a
compound is always composed of the same
elements in the same proportion by mass, no
matter how large or small the sample.
• The relative amounts of the elements in a
compound can be expressed as percent by
mass.
Law of Definite Proportions
The percent by mass is the ratio of the mass of
each element to the total mass of the compound
expressed as a percentage.
Law of Definite Proportions
The table below demonstrates that the
percentages of elements in sucrose remain the
same despite differences in sample amount.
Law of Multiple Proportions
The law of multiple proportions states that
when different compounds are formed by a
combination of the same elements, different
masses of one element combine with
the same fixed mass of the other element in a
ratio of small whole numbers.
Law of Multiple Proportions
Example 1
The two distinct compounds water (H2O) and
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) illustrate the law of
multiple proportions.
• Each compound contains the same elements.
• The mass of hydrogen is the same in both
compounds.
• The mass of oxygen in hydrogen peroxide
compared to water gives a 2:1 ratio.
Law of Multiple Proportions
Example 2
Copper reacts with chlorine to form two different
compounds. The ratio of relative masses of
copper in both compounds is 2:1.
Quiz
1. Which of the following is true of elements?
A All elements are naturally existing.
B An element is a pure substance that cannot be
separated into simpler substances by physical or
chemical means. CORRECT
C Water is an element.
D Different sets of elements share similar physical
properties, but they never share chemical properties.
Quiz
2. How are elements in the periodic table organized?
A They are not organized in any particular pattern.
B They are organized alphabetically by their
chemical symbols.
C They are organized into horizontal rows called
CORRECT
periods and vertical columns called groups.
D They are organized into horizontal rows called
groups and vertical columns called periods.
Quiz
3. Which of the following is not a compound?
A water C potassium iodide
B sodium chloride D hydrogen CORRECT
Quiz
4. Which of the following is true of electrolysis?
A It separates water into one part hydrogen and
one part oxygen.
B It causes the physical change of water into its
component elements.
C It uses heat to break down a compound.
D It causes the chemical change of water into its
component elements. CORRECT
Quiz
5. Copper(I) chloride and copper(II) chloride are both
formed by the combination of copper and chlorine.
The different masses of copper that combine with a
fixed mass of chlorine in the two different compounds
can be expressed as a small whole-number ratio. This
ratio supports which law?
A the law of conservation C the periodic law
of mass
B the law of multiple D the law of definite
proportions CORRECT proportions
