From Particles to Solutions 5.

1
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Chemistry is the study
of matter and the changes it undergoes. In this section, you will briefly
review some of the important concepts you learned in earlier grades about
what matter is made of and how it is classified.

The Particle Theory of Matter

All matter is made of tiny particles. Different kinds of matter are made of
different kinds of particles. For example, the particles that make up water are
different from the particles that make up the glass containing it (Figure 1).
The particle theory of matter summarizes what scientists have learned about particle theory of matter a theory that
the particles that make up matter. The main ideas of the particle theory are describes the composition and behaviour
of matter
1. All matter is made up of tiny particles that have empty spaces
between them.
2. Different substances are made up of different kinds of particles.
3. Particles are in constant random motion.
4. The particles of a substance move faster as its temperature increases.
5. Particles attract each other.
According to the particle theory, particles are attracted to each other
and are always moving. Particles of a substance form a solid when these
forces of attraction are strong enough to hold the particles close together in water
water
a rigid shape. When heated, particles gain energy and begin moving faster. glass
glass
When they have enough thermal energy, the particles start sliding past each
other because the attraction between particles can no longer hold them Figure 1 All matter is made up
of particles.
together. This is the liquid state. The particles are still very close together,
but they are able to flow past one another. If heating continues, the particles
gain so much energy that they literally fly apart. The substance is now in the C05-F01-UDOS9SB.ai

gaseous state, and the particles are so far apart that their forces of attraction
have little effect on their behaviour (Figure 2). C05-F01-UDOS9SB.ai

Ontario Science 10 SB
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CO CrowleArt Group
Deborah Crowle
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CO CrowleArt Group
Deborah Crowle Figure 2 The particle theory describes
the different behaviours of solids,
solid Pass 1st pass liquids, and gases.
liquid gas
Approved
Pure Substances Not Approved
Matter can be made up of many different types of particles. Some types
of matter, however, are made up of only one type of particle. For example,
pure or distilled water contains only water particles. Distilled water is an
example of a pure substance—a type of matter that consists of only one type pure substance a substance that is
of particle. Water from your tap is not a pure substance because it contains
C05-F02-UDOS9SB.ai made up of only one type of particle
water particles as well as other types of particles, such as dissolved gases.
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 Mixtures
When you add a pinch of salt to a glass of distilled water, the salt dissolves
and the water tastes salty. The water in the glass is no longer a pure
substance but a mixture because it contains salt particles and water particles.
A mixture contains more than one type of particle. Mixtures can be solids,
liquids, or gases. Solid mixtures include cellphones and granola bars
Figure 3 Granola bars are mixtures (Figure 3). Examples of liquid mixtures are tea and juice. Air is a mixture
because they are made up of more than
one type of particle. of different types of gases.

Mechanical Mixtures and Solutions

mixture a substance that is made up of
There are two different kinds of mixtures: mechanical mixtures and
at least two different types of particles
solutions. A mechanical mixture is a mixture in which the substances in it
mechanical mixture a mixture in which
are distinguishable from each other, either with the unaided eye or with a
you can distinguish between different
types of matter microscope. Breakfast cereal is an example of a mechanical mixture (Figure 4).
solution a uniform mixture of two or
A solution looks like a pure substance but it contains more than one type
more substances of particle. You cannot visually distinguish between the different types of
particles in a solution. Clear apple juice is an example of a solution (Figure 5).

Figure 4 When you eat cereal for breakfast, you are eating a Figure 5 Clear apple juice is a solution because you cannot visually
mechanical mixture. distinguish between the different types of particles in it.

There is an easy way to tell whether a liquid or gas mixture is a solution

or a mechanical mixture: all liquid and gas solutions are clear! If a liquid or
gas mixture appears murky or opaque, it is a mechanical mixture. Fog, milk,
and orange juice are examples of mechanical mixtures.
AlloyS
Tin and lead are pure metals. Each metal by itself is a pure substance because it is
made of only one type of particle. When two or more metals are mixed together,
alloy a solid solution of two or more the resulting metal is called an alloy. An alloy is an example of a solution.
metals Tin and lead are combined to make a metal alloy commonly called solder
(pronounced “sodder”). Solder is used to join together metal components,
such as wires in electrical circuits and copper pipes in plumbing. Like glue,
solder needs to be fluid so that it can be applied to a joint and fill the spaces
in it. It also needs to quickly solidify to firmly hold the parts together. Lead is
ideal for this purpose—it is fluid at high temperatures but solidifies quickly.
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 There is increasing awareness, however, that lead poisoning causes DID YOU KNOW?
irreversible damage to the brain, kidneys, heart, and reproductive organs, Lead Poisoning
especially in growing children. Many uses of lead have been reduced or Before the toxic effects of lead were
eliminated because of this increased awareness. Leaded gasoline and lead understood, the seams of metal cans
for preserving food were sealed
bullets used for hunting, as well as lead pipes and leaded solder, have been
using lead solder. When the cans
replaced by less hazardous materials (Figure 6). were heated, a high level of lead
leached into the food, particularly if
the contents were acidic, such as
tomatoes or citrus fruits. It is likely that
sailors suffered from lead poisoning on
long trips. Fresh meat and vegetables
were not available, so sailors ate
mostly canned foods. Even today, you
should never drink hot water directly
from the tap, in case there is lead
solder in the plumbing that may be
absorbed into the hot water.

Figure 6 A blow torch is used to melt solder. Lead-free solder consists

of non-toxic metals such as tin, copper, and silver.

T RY THIS HOW STRETCHY IS YOUR SOLDER?

SKILLS: Predicting, Controlling Variables, Performing, Observing, Analyzing, Evaluating, Communicating SKILLS HANDBOOK
3.B.2., 3.B.8.
Have you heard the story about two brothers fighting over a
copper penny and neither of them would let go? They ended up
holding on to the ends of a copper wire. Metal can be stretched.
This property of copper and other metals, called ductility, can be
demonstrated using a piece of solder (Figure 7).
Equipment and Materials: marker; ceiling hook or ladder;
heavy mass (e.g., bag of books or rocks); tape measure;
1 m long piece of solder
1. Obtain a piece of solder approximately 1 m long. Figure 7 Solder is used to form solid connections between wires and
2. Tie one end of the solder to a ceiling hook or to the top rung copper pipes. You will be measuring the ductility of solder.
of a ladder. A. Did the solder stretch while suspended overnight? How much? T/I

3. Tie the other end around a heavy mass, such as a bag of B. Predict whether the solder would stretch more or less if the
books or rocks. temperature were increased. T/I
4. Use a marker to draw a line near each end of the solder. C. Design a way to test your prediction. If possible, test your
Measure the distance between the lines. Allow the solder to prediction. T/I
remain suspended overnight. D. What avoidable or unavoidable problems did you encounter
5. Measure the length of the solder between the two marked in this activity? What improvements could you make to your
lines again, and compare with the previous length. procedure? T/I

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 The tree diagram in Figure 8 summarizes the classification of matter you
studied in this section.

Matter

Pure Can combine

Mixtures
substances to form

Mechanical
Solutions
mixtures

Figure 8 The classification of matter

IN SUMMARY
• Th
e particle theory of matter describes the • A mechanical mixture contains more than
composition and behaviour of matter. one type of particle, and the different types of
• A pure substance is made up of only one type particles are visible.
of particle. • A solution contains more than one type of
• A mixture is made up of at least two diff erent particle but the different types of particles cannot
types of particles. be distinguished visually.
• An alloy is a solution composed of two or more
metals.

CHECK YOUR LEARNING

1. List the five main ideas of the particle theory. K/U 8. Identify each of the following as a mechanical mixture or
2. Use the particle theory to explain why water changes from a solution: K/U
a solid to a liquid when it is heated. K/U (a) a pane of clear glass
3. Give three examples of a pure substance. K/U (b) chocolate chip ice cream
4. Give three examples of a mixture. K/U (c) clear apple juice
5. Describe a mechanical mixture. K/U (d) a pizza
6. Describe a solution. K/U (e) garbage in a garbage can
7. Use a Venn diagram to compare mechanical mixtures and 9. What kind of alloy makes an effective solder material?
solutions (Figure 9). C Explain. K/U
10. Lead is not often used in solder anymore. Explain why
not. K/U

Figure 9 Sample Venn diagram

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