CLASSIFYING MATTER (3 "Box" System)

Chemistry students can better understand the the nearly infinite number of individual types of matter found on Earth (and beyond) by using the Chemical Classification System.

Biology students can think of theses as. "The 3 Kingdoms of Matter"

1) ELEMENTS (ATOMS)

Each element is made of only one type of atom. Elements are the simplest and purest

substances found anywhere; they cannot be chemically or physically decomposed.

The Periodic Table lists all 92 naturally occurring chemical elements and the

26 synthetic elements made by scientists. Elements are represented on the

Periodic Table by a one or two letter chemical symbol (H, C, W, U, Na, Ag, Cl, Hg).

The vast majority of the chemical elements are metals, 11 exist as gases,

and only two exist in the liquid state (one of which is a liquid metal!).

2) COMPOUNDS (MOLECULES and CRYSTALS)

A chemical compound (molecule or crystal) is formed when two or more

different types of atoms bond together. All of the 20 million different chemical

compounds (molecules and crystals) are formed during chemical reactions.

The 20 million different chemical reactions that form compounds occur in nature,

in the home, in our bodies, in laboratories, and in industrial chemical plants.

Each of the 20 million chemical compounds is represented by a unique chemical

formula that contains symbols (atom types) and subscripts (number of each atom

type). For example, an H2O water molecule is formed when two atoms of hydrogen

bond with one atom of oxygen. Crystals of sodium chloride (NaCl) form when sodium

atoms and chlorine atoms bond together in a 1 to 1 ratio.

3) MIXTURES (INGREDIENTS)

Chemical mixtures are formed by combining different ingredients that do not react

and do retain their chemical identities (formulas). When sucrose (C6H22O11) is

dissolved in water (H2O), the sugar water solution (mixture) is still made of

C6H22O11 molecules and H2O molecules.

The number of different mixtures possible is nearly infinite!

The ingredients of almost all mixtures can be separated using any number of

physical separation methods and techniques. Numerous industries and businesses

specialize in mixture separation.

MATTER can also be classified into these two categories:

1) LIVING (Cellular Organisms) School subject: Biology

2) NON-LIVING (Non-Cellular Matter) School Subject: Chemistry