SNC1D6 – Choo 2017/18 Name:

5.1 Particle Theory of Matter & Classifying Matter

Learning Goals/Success Criteria: At the end of this lesson, I will be able to:
! Describe the Particle Theory of Matter and explain properties of solids/liquids/gases
! Classify pure substances & mixtures (homogenous vs heterogenous)

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space (has volume). All matter is made up of particles!
Scientist have been observing the particles that make up matter for so long that we now have the Particle
Theory. Remember, a “theory” in Science means that many, MANY scientist have gathered evidence that
supports this and it is widely accepted conclusion that helps us understand the natural world better.

The Particle Theory of Matter states:

1. All matter is made up of particles.
2. All particles of one substance are identical.
3. Particles are in constant motion. (Yes! Even when they are frozen!)
4. Temperature affects the speed at which particles move.
5. Particles have forces of attraction between them.
6. There are spaces between particles.

Your mission is to use the demonstrations and activities you see in class today to better understand and use
your own evidence to support the Particle Theory of Matter. For each demonstration or activity, record how
it supports the Particle Theory of Matter:

Station 1: Food Coloring + Hot Water VS Food Coloring + Cold Water

Instructions: Place ONE drop of food colouring in the beaker of COLD water and ONE drop of food colouring
in the beaker of HOT water. Do not stir or disturb the beakers as you observe them.

a. What I observed: Answers may vary. Food colouring in the hot water diffuses/spreads/moves faster
than cold water.
b. Supports Particle Theory of Matter because.... molecules must be moving in order for the colour to
spread
c. Draw a diagram of the molecules to illustrate your observation.
Hot Water Cold Water

d. “Pulse points” are those points on the body where you feel your heart beat – wrists, throat, under
the ears, on the inner elbow and behind the knees. The veins are closest to the surface of the skin
at these points and they are typically warmer than other parts of your body. Why do perfume
manufacturers recommend putting perfume on pulse points?

These parts of the body are warmer and the particles of perfume will move faster and travel further
because they have more energy.
 Station 2: Oil + Water VS Alcohol + Water
Demo A: Water and Oil. Fill one graduated cylinder with 50 ml of oil and another graduated cylinder
with 50 ml of water. Pour 50 ml of water into the graduated cylinder with 50 ml of oil.

a. What is the final volume in the cylinder with both water and oil? ~100 mL
b. What I observed: Answers may vary. The oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense.
c. Supports Particle Theory of Matter because....particles of one substance are identical. All the oil
particles stay together and all the water particles stay together. Might think it was
spilled/evaporated/compressed but liquids can’t be compressed
Demo B: Water and Alcohol. Fill 50 ml of water in one graduated cylinder and 50 ml of isopropyl
alcohol in another graduated cylinder.
a. What do you think the resulting volume will be? ~100 mL
b. Pour the alcohol into the water. What is the actual volume? Actually less than 100 mL
c. What I observed: Answers may vary. The alcohol floats on top of the water because it is less dense.
The volume of the two liquids is less than expected. Might think it was
spilled/evaporated/compressed but liquids can’t be compressed.
d. Supports Particle Theory of Matter because.... there are spaces between particles. The alcohol
molecules fit between the space of the water molecules so the volume is less than expected.
e. Draw a diagram of the molecules to illustrate your observation.
Water + Oil Water + Alcohol

Station 3: Marshmallow and Vacuum Jar

Place one marshmallow under the bell jar and turn on the vacuum pump.
a. What I observed: Answers may vary. Marshmallow initially expands when the vacuum is on. Then
shrinks once the vacuum is removed.
b. Supports Particle Theory of Matter because.... there are spaces between particles. When the vacuum
is on, the space is sucked out of the marshmallow.
c. Draw a diagram of the molecules to illustrate your observation.
Regular Marshmallow Marshmallow in Vacuum
 Station 4: States of Matter
Explore what happens to matter as the temperature increases using the following websites:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/states_of_matter/molecules.swf
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/501/deploy/interface.swf .

Record how the molecules are arranged and how they are moving for a solid, liquid, and a gas in the
diagrams below:

Solid Liquid Gas

There is a fourth state of matter--Plasma! Draw what your group thinks that the
particles are doing in the Plasma phases: Plasma is a hot ionized gas consisting of
negative and positive particles. Particles are even further apart than gases.

Solids, liquids, and gases are all states or phases of matter. When matter changes from one phase to
another, we call this a phase change and these have specific names. Use arrows to label the diagram
below to indicate what the name of each process that helps matter change from one phase to another (do
some research if you need!):

Station 5: Review
Go through a review activities and practice test on the following websites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/chemical_material_behaviour/particle_model/activity/ and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/chemical_material_behaviour/particle_model/revision/2/

Complete a table of the different properties of solids, liquids and gases:

Solids Liquids Gases
-held tightly together -bonds are strong enough to -no bonds
-regular pattern hold them together but -far apart
Attractions/Bonds particles can flow -arranged in random way
-random pattern
- cannot be compressed - cannot be compressed -can be compressed
Compressibility
-cannot flow - can flow -move very quickly
Movement -vibrate in fixed position -move around each other
-fixed volume & shape -take the shape of their -take the shape and volume of
Volume and Shape container, fixed volume their container
Each of the activities/demos illustrated a different point in the Particle Theory of Matter.
The Particle Theory of Matter states: Activity/Demo that showed this point:
1. All matter is made up of particles. ALL

2. All particles of one substance are identical. 2, 7

3. Particles are in constant motion. (Yes! Even 1

when they are frozen!)
4. Temperature affects the speed at which 1
particles move.
5. Particles have forces of attraction between 2 (all the oil, alcohol & water stay together)
them.
6. There are spaces between particles. 2, 3

Station 6 – Classifying Matter

Matter can be classified according to different characteristics like their physical and chemical properties.

(Note: your text refers to heterogeneous mixtures as mechanical mixtures and homogeneous mixtures as solutions)

Pure substances are only made up of one type of particle, and can be further categorized into elements
or compounds. We will look at elements and compounds in more detail in Chapter 6.

Mixtures are made up of two or more particles and can be further categorized into mechanical
(heterogeneous) and solutions (homogenous). A mechanical (or heterogenous) mixture is a mixture in
which the substances are distinguishable from each other. Heterogenous means different and refers to
the 2 separate phases of a mechanical mixture. A good example is oil and water.

The substances in a solution (or homogenous mixture) are not distinguishable from each other because
the particles have actually dissolved. Homogenous means same phase and a solution of salt water looks
all the same. Solutions can look like pure substance but contain more than one type of particle dissolved
in another.

An easy way to tell a solution and mechanical mixture apart is that all liquid and gas solutions are
transparent! The solutions remains stable and do not separate. Solutions of solid metals are called
alloys. Some common alloys are brass, bronze, solder, and rose gold.
Mixtures can be separated using different methods. Go through the review activity at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zgvc4wx/revision and make notes on the following methods.
Method Example
A filter
-separate an insoluble solid from a liquid
-insoluble = does not dissolve
-soluble = dissolves

Distillation
-separates based on boiling point
-the compound with the lower boiling point
evaporates first

A magnet
-separates magnetic from non-magnetic
compounds

Station 7 – Classifying Matter

Examine the samples provided and identify them as mechanical mixtures or solutions.
Mixture
Sample Observation
Mechanical Solution
Use a magnet to examine sample A ✓
A Some of the sample is attracted to the magnet. Some of it is not.

Shake sample B and allow to rest on the bench for 2 min. ✓

B The sample separates out into different parts as it allows to settle

Shine the flashlight through sample C ✓

C Does not allow light through

Use the hand lens to examine sample D ✓

D Can see different parts of it.

Add two drops to a small sample of E and mix. ✓

E Some of it dissolves. Leaves an insoluble part behind.

Use the hand lens to examine sample F ✓

F Can see different parts of it

Extension: Colloids are examples of heterogeneous mixtures that look like homogenous mixtures! Like solutions,
they do not separate upon standing and cannot be separated by normal filtration. Like mechanical mixtures, they
do not pass the light test. They are classified by the size of their particles. Colloids have particle sizes that consist
of clumps of molecules. Some examples of colloids include: aerosols (fog, clouds, smoke, dust), foams (whipped
cream), solid foams (marshmallow, Styrofoam), emulsions (milk, mayonnaise, lotion), gels (butter, gelatin), sols
(ink, liquid detergent, shampoo) and solid sols (gemstones, some coloured glass & alloys). A sol is a colloid with a
solid suspended in either a liquid or another solid.