Elements, compounds, atoms and molecules

Elements, compounds, atoms and molecules

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about atoms, elements, compounds, and mixtures.
A B C D E

a)
Use the boxes above to answer these questions.
 
  i)
Name a box that contains an element.
 
  
A   B   C   D   E (Circle one)
 
  ii)
Which box contains a compound?
 
  
A   B   C   D   E (Circle one)
 
  iii)
Which box contains a mixture of elements?
 
  
A   B   C   D   E (Circle one)
 
Four words that can be used when describing substances are written in the box below.
 
 
elements          compounds          atoms          molecules
 
b)
 
Use these words to explain the difference between
 
i)
box B and box D.
 
 
 
 
ii)
box A and box B.
 
 
 
 
 
c) Using symbols like those in boxes A to E, draw a diagram below to show a box containing two different types of compounds.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Material World
Keywords: 
structure of matter, elements, atoms, molecules, compounds, interpreting diagrams
Description of task: 
Students use diagrams to answer questions about atoms, elements, compounds, and mixtures. They are then asked to use these words to describe the differences between diagrams.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to use a key to interpret and explain science diagrams and to represent their understanding of a science concept by drawing their own scientific diagrams.
Answers/responses: 
 
Y10 (05/2003)
a) i)
ii)
iii)		 A or B
D
C		 very easy
moderate
moderate
b)

i)
 
 
 
ii)

 Box B has elements, while box D has compounds.
or
Box B has molecules of elements, while box D has
compounds.
Box A has atoms, while box B has (molecules of)
elements.

difficult
 
 
very difficult
c)  
e.g.,
 difficult

 

Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error

a) ii)
 
    iii)

20% of students circled box B
13% of students circled box A
33% of students circled box D