CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER Classification of Compounds

Matter – commonly defined as anything that exists in time, 1. Acids – substances that have a sour taste. All acids contain
occupies space and has mass. Matter is simply all the material hydrogen ions (H+). These can be identified when a blue
of which the universe is composed of as well as tiny particles litmus paper turns to red and when phenolphthalein indicator
called atom. remains colorless. Acids also neutralize a base and react with
active metals to produce hydrogen gas.
Two Broad Categories of Matter
Ex: citrus acid from citrus fruits, acetic acid contained in
1. PURE SUBSTANCE – matter that has a fixed vinegar, carbonic acid in carbonated beverages.
composition and distinct properties
a. Element – consists of only one kind of atom and 2. Bases – substances that have a bitter taste. These are
cannot be separated into simpler substance by slippery and soapy in litmus paper. Bases contain hydroxyl
chemical change. (OH-) groups and turn red litmus paper to blue. These also
change the phenolphthalein indicator to pink.
Symbols for the elements may be divided into four Ex: soap, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide
groups:
i. Symbols derived from the capitalized letter of 3. Salts – compounds formed when acids combined with
the English name of the element. bases. When equal amount of acid combines with equal
Ex: B for boron, C for carbon, and H for hydrogen amount of base, a salt is formed through the process called
ii. Symbols derived from the first letter of the neutralization.
English name. The first letter of the symbol is Ex: Sodium chloride, ammonium chloride
capitalized but the second is a lower case.
Ex: Ba for barium, Be for beryllium, Al for 2. MIXTURE – a combination of two or more pure
aluminum, and Ca for calcium substances in variable proportions (not chemically
iii. Symbols based on the first letter of the English combined). The substance may be elements or
name and one letter (written in lower case) compounds.
which is not the second letter. This is because
there are two or more elements whose names Kinds of Mixtures
have the same first two letters. 1. homogeneous – mixture that do not contain
Ex: Cd for cadmium because calcium is visibly different parts. It is uniform throughout in
represented by Ca; Tl for thallium because terms of composition, properties and appearance.
thorium is represented by Th. Ex: seawater
iv. A few symbols are based on the Latin (or the 2. heterogeneous – mixture that has visibly different
parts/components. Do not have the same
foreign) names. These elements are as follows:
composition, properties and appearance.
Common Name Latin Name Symbol Ex: soil, gravel and sand
Antimony Stibnium Sb
Copper Cuprum Cu
Gold Aurum Au
Iron Ferrum Fe
Lead Plumbum Pb
Mercury Hydrargyrum Hg
Potassium Kalium Ka
Silver Argentum Ag
Sodium Natrium Na
Tin Stannum Sn
Tungsten Wolfram W

Subdivisions of elements:

 Metals – have a shiny luster, various colors although most

are silvery. They have high densities and good conductor
of heat and electricity, malleable, and ductile and typically
solid at room temperature except mercury.
 Non-metals – often liquids and gases but some exist in
solid state. Do not have luster, have low densities and
poor conductor of heat and electricity.
 Metalloids – have properties that are intermediate
between metallic and non metallic properties.

b. Compound – a substance that is composed of

two or more elements, chemically combined in
definite and constant proportions. Ex: Diamond,
CO2, H2O.

GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1_AAZ-’18-‘19 Page 1