Chemistry Unit Notes

8th Grade Science

Basic Vocabulary
Matter: Anything that has mass and volume
Mass: Amount of matter in an object
Weight: Measure of the force of attraction
between objects due to mass and gravity
Volume: Amount of space an object takes up
Density: Measurement of how much mass is
contained in a given volume

More Vocabulary
Atoms: Smallest particle of an element that has all
the properties of matter:
Protons- particles in the nucleus with positive charge
Electrons- particles orbiting around nucleus with negative
charge
Neutrons- particles in the nucleus with no charge

Elements: Simplest form of a pure substance

Compounds: Two or more elements chemically
combined to form a new substance

Sub-Atomic Particles
Part of
Atom

Charge

Location

Mass/Size

Electron

- negative

outside
nucleus

.0006 amu
(too little to
count)

Proton

+ positive

inside
nucleus

1 amu

Neutron

no charge

inside
nucleus

1 amu

Periodic Table

Using the Periodic Table

17

Atomic Number
Equal to # protons = # electrons
Periodic Table is arranged by this number

Cl
35.5

Symbol
Shorthand for the element Note 2 nd letter
is always lowercase

Atomic Mass Number

Total AVERAGE mass of Protons + Neutrons +
Electrons

Electron Energy Levels

Electrons are arranged in Shells around nucleus

in predictable locations
Fill seats closest to nucleus first (concert best
seats)
Seats available

Shell #1
Shell #2
Shell #3
Shell #4
Shell #5
Shell #6

2 electrons
8 electrons
8 electrons
18 electrons
32 electrons
50 electrons

Ex. Carbon has 6 total electrons so

Two electrons on first energy level

Four electrons on second energy

level
Question: Could we fit more electrons on the second energy level if there were more electrons in carbon

Atomic Structure

Total # of protons and electrons (in a neutral atom)

17 protons in nucleus
17 electrons orbiting nucleus

17

Cl

Element Name
Chlorine

35.5

Total Mass of Nucleus

36 - 17 = 18 neutrons
(Round Atomic Mass)

Notice: electrons follow energy level rul

from previous slide.

Atomic Mass Fractions?

Look

at Chlorine (atomic number 17)

Atomic mass of 35.5? I dont get it!
Where does the 35.5 come from?
0.5 protons? 0.5 neutrons? No
Atomic

Mass = average number of

protons and neutrons in nature

More Practice
Determine

the name, number of

protons, neutrons and electrons for
each element shown and draw
15

26

Fe

31

16

56

Isotopes
An

isotope is a variation of an
element (same protons) but can
have diff. # of neutrons

Ex:

carbon (atomic mass =

12.011)
Carbon (14) and carbon (12) exist in
nature

Ions
Change

in electrons which gives an

atom a charge (+ or -)
You can only add or subtract electrons!
(protons dont change)

Ex. Count the number of electrons below

Carbon ion (-1 charge)

7 electrons (-)
6 protons (+)

Neutral Carbon
6 electrons (-)
6 protons (+)

Carbon ion (+1 charge)

5 electrons (-)
6 protons (+)

Valence Electrons

An electron on the outermost energy shell of an

atom
Important to understand because this is a key
factor in how atoms will BOND with each other
Octet rule stable atom will have 8 electrons in
that outer shell
Practice Valence # of
Chlorine?
Neon?
Nitrogen?
Oxygen?

Electron Dot Diagrams

a diagram that represents the # of valence

electrons in an atom of an element.
The amount of electrons is displayed by
dots around the symbol of the element.
Ex.

http://www.fordhamprep.org/gcurran/sho/s
ho/lessons/lesson38.htm

Types of Chemical Bonds

Ionic-

Two elements bond by transferring electrons to create

ions that attract together (+ is attracted to - after an electron is
transferred)

Covalent-

Two elements bond by sharing electrons

(strongest bond type)

Metallic-

Two metals bond and form a common electron

cloud. This is a cluster of shared electrons (weakest bond type)

Examples of Bonding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTx_DWboEVs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wpDicW_MQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqjcCvzWwww
http://lc.brooklyn.cuny.edu/smarttutor/core3_22/Bonds.html

Predicting Bonds
Ionic

Bond = metal to non-metal

Covalent = non-metal to non-metal
Metallic = metal to metal

Do you understand why? HINT: the numbers at the top of the table indicate the # of valence electrons for each

Oxidation Numbers

Oxidationnumbersareassignedtoeachelement

Theyrepresentapredictedchargeofanatom/ionwhenit
bondswithanotherelement.
(tellsusiftheatomwouldprefergiveortakeelectrons,andhowmany).

Theyhelpustopredictwhatcompoundswillformwhentwo
elementsgettogether.

Oxidationnumbersarelabeledlikethis:
Na 1+
O 2-

How to Use Oxidation

Numbers

OxidationNumberindicatesthenumberofelectronslost,gainedorsharedwhen
bondingwithotheratoms.

Ex.Nawantstoloseanelectron.Ifanelectronislost,it
becomesa+1charge
SO:oxidationnumberforNa=1+
Ex.Clwantstogainanelectron.Ifanelectronisgained,it
becomesa1charge
SO:oxidationnumberforCl=1

Oxidation Numbers
Each

column going down the periodic

table has elements with the same
oxidation number.

Label the oxidation numbers on your periodic table at the top of

each column as shown here:

1+2+3+4(+/)3210

Rules for using oxidation

numbers to create
compounds

1. Positiveionscanonlybondwithnegativeionsandvice
versa
2.Thesumoftheoxidationnumbersoftheatomsina
compoundmustbezero(thekeyistostaybalanced)
3.Iftheoxidationnumbersarenotequaltozero,thenyou
mustaddadditionalelementsuntiltheybalanceatzero.
4.WhenwritingaformulathesymbolofthePositive(+)
elementisfollowedbythesymbolofthenegative()
element.

Examples of Forming
Compounds
Ex.Na(+1)+Cl(1)=NaCl

Aretheseoxidationnumbersalreadyequaltozero?
Ifso,youdontneedtoaddanyextraelementstocombinethemintoacompound,sotheansweris
simplyNaCl

Ex.H(+1)+O(2)=H2O

Howmany+1wouldyouneedtobalancethe2tozero?
Sinceyouneed2atomsofthe1+tobalancethe2tozerotheresultingcompoundwouldbeH2O
Inotherwords:tocombineHwithO,youMUSThave2Htobalancetheoxidationnumberstozero
2+and2=ZERO

Ex.Al(+3)+S(2)=Al2S3
Thisoneistrickywearenotevenclosetobalancing+andtozero.
BecauseofthiswemusthavemorethanoneAlandmorethanoneSinourfinalequation.
Byusing2Aluminumsinsteadofjust1wewouldhave6+
Byusing3sulfersinsteadofjust1wewouldhave6
Sincethesearenowequaltozero,wecombine2Aluminumsand3SulferstomakeAl2S3

Chemical vs. Physical

Change
Physical Change: A change that can
occur without changing the identity of
the substance.
Ex. Solid, Liquid, Gas (Phase change)

Chemical Change: Process by which a

substance becomes a new and different
substance
Ex. Fire

Chemical Reactions
Chemical

Reaction: a process in
which the physical and chemical
properties of the original substance
change as new substances with
different physical and chemical
properties are formed

Chemical Reaction Basics

H2 + O2 --> H2O
Reactants

Products

Reactants- substance that enters into a reaction

Products- substance that is produced by a chemical reaction

Evidence of Chemical
Change
EPOCH is an acronym that stands for evidence that
a chemical reaction has occurred.

E Effervescence (bubbles and/or gives off gas)

P Precipitate (solid crystals form)

O Odor (change of smell is detected)

Color change
C

Heat (reaction either heats up or cools

H
down)

Does sighting evidence of a chemical reaction mean that a

chemical reaction has undoubtedly taken place?

Types of Reactions
Romance Chemistry :)

Synthesis- Marriage/Dating
A + B = AB
Decomposition- Divorce/Breakup
AB= A + B
Single-Replacement- Dance Cut In
A + BC = AC + B
Double-Replacement- Dancing couples
switch partners.
AB + CD = AC + BD

Cartoon Chemistry

This is an example of synthesis

Cartoon Chemistry

This is an example of a decomposition

Cartoon Chemistry

This is an example of a single replacement

Cartoon Chemistry

This is an example of a double replacement

Reaction Types Review

Match

each chemical reaction with

one of the reaction types on your
chemical cartoons.
Zn + 2HCl H2 + ZnCl2
N2 + 3H2 2NH3
2KI + Pb(NO3)2 2KNO3 + PbI2
2MgCl Mg2 + Cl2

Conservation of Mass
Atoms

cannot be created or
destroyed in a chemical reaction.
What goes in must come out.
So we must balance equations to
conserve mass.

Balancing Equations

Rules:

We can not add or subtract subscripts from

either side of the equation
We can only add coefficients to the front of
each compound
Ex.
2H2 + O2 --> 2H2O
H=4
O=2
Before

H=4
O=2
must match

After

See Balancing Act worksheet for more examples

Solution Chemistry
Mixtures: Matter that consists of two or more substances
mixed but not chemically combined
Solutions: Homogeneous Mixture in which one
substance is dissolved into another
Solute = Substance that gets dissolved (ex. Kool-Aid
powder)
Solvent = Substance that does the dissolving (ex.
Water)

Acid: Compound with a pH below 7 that tastes sour and

is a proton donor.
Ex. Citrus foods

Base: Compound with a pH above 7 that tastes bitter and

is a proton acceptor
Ex. Cleaning Products (soap)

Acids and Bases

-

Solutions can be acidic or basic

Acids and Bases have unique properties when

dissolved in water
- Acids = sour taste
- Bases = bitter taste

Indicators are substances that change color when

mixed with a solution, which helps to determine if a
substance is an acid or a base. (pH paper, Litmus
paper, cabbage juice)

Acids

Proton donors (H+)

Acids contain hydrogen and produce
positive ions (H+) when dissolved in water
Acids = good electrolytes
Examples of acids:

Lemon Juice
Citric Acid
Carbonic Acid
HCl

Bases
Proton

acceptors
Bases contain hydroxide ions (OH-)
when mixed with water.
Bases = weak electrolytes
Examples of bases:

Ammonia
Soap
Bleach (chlorine)

Combining Acids and Bases

-Mixing acids and bases is a balancing act.
(like a teeter-totter)

Acid + Base = neutral (water and salt)

Combining Acids and Bases

EXAMPLE:
Acid + Base = neutral (water and salt)
H+
Acid

+ OH-
Base

Ex. HCl +
NaCl

NaOH

HOH + Salt
water

H2O +

Measuring Acids and Bases

pH

scale- used to measure the

acidity of a solution.
Measure pH with indicators
pH scale goes from 0 14
0 = very acidic
14 = very basic
7 = neutral

Acids and Bases