MODULE 2
The Content of Science: Conceptual Learning
(Chemistry)
The content of Science in the K to 12 Curriculum is made up of four major fields or
disciplines
1. Chemistry (Matter: Classification, Properties and Changes)
2. Biology (Living Things and their Environment)
3. Physics (Force, Motion and Energy)
4. Earth and Space (Surroundings and Land, Water and Air, Weather, Climate and Solar
System)
The subject area contents are not labelled by the major science disciplines but these
are given titles that are understandable by the learners from Grade 3 to Grade 6.
Science as a subject starts in Grade 3, yet the components of science such as content,
processes, inquiry and science attitudes are also taken up starting in Kindergarten, Grade 1
and Grade 2. These are incorporated in specific areas of learning such Social Studies, Mother
Tongue Multi-lingual Education or in Communication Arts.
Major Area: Chemistry (Matter)
Grade 3 Properties and Structure of Matter
Characteristics of solids, liquids and gases
Changes in solids, liquids and gas
Grade 4 Properties and Structure of Matter
Properties used to group and store materials (ability to absorb water, float
or sink, decaying or non-decaying)
Regrouping materials: recycle, reduce, reuse, recover, repair
Changes that materials undergo
Changes that are useful
Changes that are harmful
Grade 5 Properties and Structure of Matter
Properties used to minimize waste
Importance of reading products label
Changes that matter undergo
Evidence of change
Appropriate ways of storing materials
Grade 6 Properties and Structure of Matter
Mixture and their Characteristics
Separating mixtures
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER
Matter
Pure Substance Impure Substance /
Mixture
Elements Compounds Homogeneous Heterogeneous
Colloids
Non metals Metalloids Metals Solutions Suspensions
Oxides Acids Bases Salts
MATTER- anything that occupies space and has mass
I. PURE SUBSTANCES- are homogenous materials with definite chemical properties and consists of
one particular kind of matter.
Example: pure water will boil at 100 o C at standard atmospheric pressure and will freeze at 10 o C.
A. ELEMENT- is a substance that can no longer be decomposed into simpler ones by ordinary
physical and chemical methods. There are at present 103 elements known. Of these, about 75
are metals and the remaining constitutes the non metals and the metalloids.
Ex. Gold, silver, platinum, iron etc.
During ordinary chemical changes, elements remain uncharged. However, not it is possible to
decompose or change an element into another by extraordinary methods. Some radioactive
elements like Radium and Uranium spontaneously decompose or disintegrate.
CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENT
1. Metals-Base forming elements whose atoms can lose electrons and form positive ions. The
nomenclature commonly ends “ium” or “um”
Properties of Metals
a. usually solid (except Hg)
b. opaque, lustrous
c. malleable
d. ductile
e. conductors of heat and electricity
f. usually heavy except for a few
Examples. Ca, Al, Na, Fe, Ag
2. Non-Metal- are acid forming elements whose atoms can gain electrons and form negative ions.
The names usually end in “gen” “ine” “on”.
Properties of Non Metal
a. usually gases of brittle solid (except bromine)
b. mostly transparent
c. light
d. poor conductors of heat and electricity
Examples: l, Cl, H, He, Ru,
2. Metalloids- those elements which exhibit both metallic and non metallic properties. Examples
are antimony and arsenic
B. COMPOUND- composed of two or more elements chemically combined in a definite
proportion by weight
a. Organic compound- any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules
contain carbon
b. Inorganic compound- any compound that does not contain carbon.
1. Oxides- compounds of oxygen and other elements
2. Acids – compounds which contain hydrogen ions replaceable by metals. Example HCl, H 2SO4,
HNO3
3. Bases – hydroxides of metals. Ex. NaOH. KOH
4. Salts – compounds which contain the negative radical of an acid and the positive radical of a
base
Ex. NaCl. CaBr2, CuSO4, Mg3(PO4)2
COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPOUNDS AND MIXTURES
Compounds Mixtures
1. Have definite composition 1. Have variable composition
2. Always homogeneous 2. Maybe homogeneous or heterogeneous
3. Have definite properties 3. Have variable properties depending on
4. The constituents are chemically combined the amount of components
4. The components are not chemically
combined
5. The constituents may be separated
only by chemical means 5. the components may be separated by
physical or chemical means
*Constituents are the particles that composed a compound
* Components are the particles that composed a mixture
II. IMPURE SUBSTANCE/ MIXTURE- composed of two or more substances in a variable composition
Mixtures are classified into:
A. Homogeneous mixture- composed of uniform composition and made up of only one phase
1. Solution – a molecular or ionic dispersion of one substance in another. The particles in a
solution are too small that they can’t be seen by the naked eye even with the aid of ultra
microscope.
B. Heterogeneous mixture- do not have uniform composition
a. Colloid- a mixture of whose particles are intermediate in size between a suspension and a
solution. The particles can be seen through an ultra microscope
b. Suspension – These are coarse mixtures, particles are visible with the naked eyes and settle
out upon standing
Properties of Matter
Matter may be identified and distinguished from one another by its physical and chemical
properties.
A. Physical Properties – those properties that may be received by the senses or measured by
physical means. Examples are:
1. Color. Silver and copper may be recognized by their color
2. Odor. Alcohol is easily differentiated from water by its odor. Hydrogen sulfide is easily
detected because of its foul odor, similar to rotten egg.
3. Taste. Sugar is sweet, salt is salty
4. Solubility in water or other solvents. Sugar is very soluble in water while sand is insoluble
in water.
5. Physical states. Matter can exist in three physical states namely solid, liquid and gas.
6. Density of Specific Gravity. Gases have low densities while solids have high densities.
7. Index of Refraction. Diamond is distinguished from ordinary glass because of its high
refractive index.
8. Viscosity. Oil is more viscous than water
9. Colligative properties. Melting point, boiling point, freezing point, vapor pressure, osmotic
pressure
10. Other properties like hardness, tensile strength, texture, electrical conductivity, shape, etc.
Physical Properties of a Few Common Pure Substances
Substances Familiarity Color Odor Melting Boiling
point (0C) Point
(0C)
Acetic acid Vinegar is 5% Colorless Pungent 16.6 118.1
solution of acetic
acid
Carbon Dry cleaning solvent colorless Like cleaning -23.0 76.5
tetrachloride fluid
chlorine Swimming pool Yellow irritating -101.0 -34.6
disinfectant green
Iron Nails gray odorless 1,530 3,000
Sodium Table salt white odorless 808 1,465
chloride
oxygen Take a deep breath colorless odorless -218.8 -183.0
B. Chemical Properties- those properties involved when matter undergoes chemical changes
that is when a substance reacts with another substance. Some chemical properties are:
1. Stability towards heat, light and pressure
2. Susceptibility to oxidation
3. Reactions with water or acid or other substances
4. Combustibility/Flammability
5. Stability
6. Relative Activity
7. Ionizations
INTRINSIC (intensive) and EXTRINSIC (extensive) Properties
Intrinsic properties do not depend on the size or amount of the sample. Colors, odor, boiling
point, electrical conductivity are some examples
Extrinsic properties depend on the size or amount of the samples. Mass and volume are some
examples.
CHANGES IN MATTER
A. PHYSICAL CHANGE – is one in which the substance is changed in appearance, state or
properties but definitely not in composition.
CLASSIFICATION OF CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL STATES OF MATTER
Changes between solid and liquid
Melting is the term applied to the change as solid turns into liquid. Freezing corresponds to the
reverse process in which liquid turns into solid. Both processes occurs at the same temperature called
melting point, freezing point or the temperature of fusion
Changes between liquid and gas
Evaporation and vaporization are terms applied to the change as liquid turns into gas.
Condensation corresponds to the reverse process in which gas turns into liquid. The temperature at
which bubbles form throughout a liquid and the liquid becomes a gas is called the boiling point.
Changes between solid and gas
Sublimation is the term applied to the changes as solid turns directly into gas. Crystallization
refers to the reverse process in which gas turns directly in a solid. Both processes also occur
at the same temperature called the sublimation point or the temperature of sublimation
B. CHEMICAL CHANGE is one in which the appearance as well as the composition of the
substances is changed resulting in one or more new substance/s. It is always accompanied by
energy changes. Reactions that absorb energy are said to be endothermic while those that
release energy are exothermic. For example: Electrolysis of water is an endothermic reaction
while burning is an exothermic reaction.
Learning Activity
I. Identify the term being described in each statement. Write your answer on the space
provided before the number.
_________________1. The simplest form of matter
_________________2. Change in the physical state of matter from gas to liquid
_________________3. Properties that may be received by the senses
_________________4. Hydrogen, chlorine and sulfur are examples of this type of elements
_________________5. Combination of two or more substances with no definite proportion
_________________6. A change in matter wherein there is a change in composition
_________________7. The term given to the substances that make up a mixture
_________________8. Change in the physical state of a substance from gas to solid without passing
the liquid state
_________________9. Sodium chloride, potassium nitrate and magnesium phosphate are examples
of this kind of compound
_________________10. Paste, cooked starch and milk are examples of this kind of mixture
II. . True or False: CORRECT if the statement is true and INCORRECT if false.
________1. Nitrogen is a compound.
________2. Freezing point depression is a colligative property of matter.
________3. Mayonnaise is a homogeneous mixture
________4. Water is an elemental substance.
________5. Chalk is a mixture
________6. A mixture is a material that is made up of two or more substances in definite proportion.
________7. Potassium hydroxide is a salt
________8. Color is a physical property
________9. Souring is an evidence of chemical change
________10. Brass is an example of elemental substance
III. Identify the properties of matter in the given situation and classify them as to PHYSICAL or
CHEMICAL property.
In the process of attempting to characterize a substance, a chemist makes the following
observations. The substance is silvery white, lustrous metal. It melts at 649oC and boils at 1105oC. Its
density at 20oC is 1738 g/cm 3. The substance burns in air producing an intense white light. It reacts
with chlorine to give brittle white solid. The substance can be pounded into thin sheets or drawn into
wires. It is a good conductor of electricity.
Physical Properties
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________________________
Chemical Properties
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________________________
IV. Classify the following as to PHYSICAL or CHEMICAL change.
________________1. ripening of fruit ________________6. frying of egg
________________2. rusting of iron ________________7. digestion
________________3. melting of ice ________________8. dissolving of salt in water
________________4. burning of wood ________________9. drawing copper into a wire
________________5. Gasoline is ignited. ________________10. breaking a glass
