So MANY COMPOUNDS, So Little Elements
An element is a pure substance, alone on the periodic table, not introduced to any other
elements and very unique. It is an atom of something that cannot be broken down into a more
simple form. Take these elements and combine them, and they make up everything you see,
and dont see. The air you breathe, the ground you walk on, the sand between your toes. Next
time you walk along the beach, look at the ocean water, it is a combination of elements, turned
compound. Even you are a unique combination of elements. Today we are going on a journey
to explore The Periodic Table of Elements, where you will begin to understand both the
simplicity and complexity of our world. As we go on our journey you will be asked to pause for
a moment of science. Now Look at the Periodic Table provided to you, when you see
words in bold, you will be instructed to look for and record the elements on your data
sheet. Follow all instructions carefully, and precisely. Record all research on the separate data
sheet. Above all, have fun getting to know your elements and compounds.
While there are currently 118 individual elements and counting, only a limited quantity of
them combines to make the water, air, solid Earth and living matter. These few popular
elements, part of the in crowd is the things that built the world, as we know it.
First you need to open up your bottle of water, take a drink of it. Pure water is a
compound of hydrogen and oxygen. Find hydrogen and oxygen on your periodic table.
Now on your data sheet, draw the element squares in the section labeled Hydrosphere,
subsection bottled water. Illustrate the bottle of water in this section.
Discuss with your table the last time you remember going to the beach or the coast. That water
is very different from the water you are drinking, but it stems from what you just drank. The
water you find on your family trip is made from mostly hydrogen and oxygen, but also sodium
and chlorine. That is why it is salty. Find hydrogen, oxygen, sodium and chlorine on your
periodic table. Now on your data sheet, draw the element squares in the section labeled
Hydrosphere, subsection ocean water. Illustrate the ocean in this section.
On the western coast of the United States there is a chain of volcanic mountains that run from
California to Washington. These mountains are made of a combination of mostly oxygen and
silicon. There are however very small amounts of aluminum, iron, potassium, magnesium and
trace (very, very, small) amounts of a few other elements. Find silicon, oxygen, aluminum,
iron, potassium and magnesium on your periodic table. Now on your data sheet, draw
the element squares in the section labeled Lithosphere, subsection volcanoes. Illustrate
mountains in this section. Remember when you were back at the beach, the sand that you
were walking on comes from weathering and erosion of mountains and other landmasses. This
sand is a combination of tiny bits and pieces of these and other mountains. They are made of
mostly oxygen and silicon. Find silicon and oxygen on your periodic table. Now on your
data sheet, draw the element squares in the section labeled Lithosphere, subsection
sand. Illustrate the sand in this section.
One unique part of the planet Earth is the air that we breathe, that keeps us alive. It is part of
what we call the atmosphere. The atmosphere is made of mostly nitrogen and oxygen,
however you will find a small amount of argon, and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a
compound made of carbon and oxygen. Find nitrogen, oxygen, argon and carbon on your
periodic table. Now on your data sheet, draw the element squares in the section labeled
Atmosphere.
And finally there is the living world, that would be all living things, including you, your friends, all
the plants and animals, bugs and trees. All living things are composed of hydrogen, oxygen,
carbon, and nitrogen. Find hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon on your periodic table.
Now on your data sheet, draw the element squares in the section labeled Biosphere.
Illustrate some of the living things in this section.
Now that you have gotten to know the elements that make up the world around you, you need
to understand that when those elements combine and make water, air, land and you, they have
changed from individual elements into compounds. Compounds are formed when elements
chemically bond together; once they bond new unique properties occur. The result is our world.
This does not mean that the other elements are not part of the living world, but the elements
we have explored today make up a giant part of it. Like the title says, so many compounds, so
little elements!
