Overview of Section Resources

Section 1: Properties of Matter
An important part of the study of matter is the study of its physical and chemical properties. Students examine several physical properties of matter, including melting and boiling points, solubility in water, and electrical and thermal conductivity.
Section 2: Atoms, Molecules, and Compounds
Students take a closer look at matter and the particles that make it up. First, they model atoms on paper, including the particles that make up atoms. Then they interpret the chemical formulas of different compounds. Finally, they build three-dimensional models of different molecules.
Section 3: Chemical Reactions
Students investigate how atoms in reactants rearrange to form products containing the same atoms. Students observe several chemical reactions, including the reaction between vinegar and baking soda, and the burning of sugar. They also explore what causes and prevents rusting, and how one metal can plate onto another metal.
Section 4: The Periodic Table
Students examine how elements are arranged according to their properties and their atomic numbers on the periodic table. The activities students perform in this section emphasize that atoms of the same element are chemically alike and differ from atoms of other elements.
Section 5: Mixtures, Solutions, and Suspensions
Students continue to investigate matter by examining mixtures. They concentrate on two speciﬁc types of mixtures—solutions and suspensions. Students show that mixtures can be separated by their physical properties. They observe how solutions can be separated by paper chromatography, then apply this method to solving a “crime.”
Section 6: Surface Tension and Bubbles
Students investigate how the attraction between water molecules creates surface tension. They show applications and uses of surface tension and relate the phenomenon to the formation of bubbles.
Section 7: Acids and Bases
Students operationally deﬁne acids and bases by examining their properties. They use indicators to test for acids and bases, and learn that acids and bases react to form a salt and water. They determine what household products are acids and bases and relate the acidity of each to its pH.
Section 8: Polymers
Students investigate how small molecules called monomers react to form large molecules called polymers. They create models of cross-linked polymer chains and relate them to the properties of different plastics they test. Finally, they make a polymer and examine its properties.