Chapter 1

Review of Basic Chemical Principles

Module 2: MATTER

Introduction

Matter is commonly defined as anything that occupies space, has mass and
possesses inertia. Everything that you see is matter including those that we do not
see since they are in gas form. All materials including human beings, occupy space
and have definite mass, which we relate to a property called weight. Everything
that you will learn in chemistry deals with matter – the properties, uses, structure
and many other things. It is therefore important to have a firm grasp of the
concepts and other basic principles related to matter.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:

1. distinguish operationally between elements and compounds;

2. identify the essential elements and compounds and explain their importance

in living organisms;

3. differentiate pure substances from mixtures and identify the three types of

mixtures;

4. classify compounds as acids, bases or salts using indicators;

5. group compounds into organic and inorganic; and

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 If you look around, most of the matter that we encounter – the food we eat,
the air we breathe, the water we drink are either pure substances or mixtures. A
pure substance usually referred to as a matter that has a fixed composition and
distinct properties. For example, water and table salt are pure substances. On the
other hand, you will also realize that most of the matter you see consists of mixtures
of different substances. Mixtures are combinations of two or more substances in
which each substance retains its own chemical identity and properties. While pure
substances have fixed compositions, the composition of mixtures vary.

Fig. 2.1 A useful tool for classifying matter

Classification of Matter

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 There are several ways on how to classify matter – based on composition,
based on chemical nature, etc. To understand more of the classification of matter,
let us focus on these two basis of classification:

I. according to composition

A. Pure Substances

1. Elements – are made up of only one kind of atom and also

its smallest component

a. Metals – Na, Ca, Fe, K, Cu, Al

b. Non metals – H, Cl, S, N, Br, O

c. Metalloids – Ge, Sb, As, Te, Po

2. Compounds – are chemically combined; composed of two

or more the same or different kinds of atoms; its smallest
component is molecule

a. Acids – HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, H3PO4

b. Bases – NaOH, Mg(OH)2, Al(OH)3, Ca(OH)2,

Sn(OH)4

c. Salts – NaCl, CaCO3, MgSO4, KNO3, Ba3(PO4)2

d. Oxides – CaO, MgO, Fe2O3, CO, SO3, CO2

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B. Mixtures – are aggregates of two or more compounds; requires
no definite amount of components; can be separated by physical
means such as filtration

1. Homogeneous – also known as solution, is a mixture that

do not contain visibly different parts; exhibits only one
phase, either solid, liquid, gas. For example salt solution,
water and alcohol, sugar solution

2. Heterogeneous – it is a mixture that contains visibly

different parts; exhibits two or more phases. For example
soil, sand and water, oil and water

3. Colloids – exhibit several characteristics or properties

which differentiate from solutions or mixtures. Examples
of colloidal mixtures are mayonnaise, jelly, whipped
cream

Specifically, there are important properties of colloid

namely:

Tyndall Effect and Brownian Movement.

The Tyndall Effect can be observed when a beam of

light is shone through a colloid, like a smoke or dust-filled
air, its path becomes clearly visible. This occurs because
the colloidal particles reflect and scatter light. This
phenomenon was discovered by a British physicist, John
Tyndall in 1857. The Brownian Movement, on the other
hand, named after the discoverer Robert Brown, can be
described as the rapid, random motion of the particles due
to their collisions. This is essential in resisting the
natural tendency of the particles to settle because of
gravity.
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 Fig. 2.2 Two important properties of colloidal mixtures

Tyndall Effect Brownian Movement

II. according to chemical nature

A. Organic – are those compound substances that contain carbon,

hydrogen and oxygen. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats
and lipids, vitamins

B. Inorganic – are those substances that do not contain carbon.

These are:

NAHCO3, KCl, BaSO4, HCl, H3PO4

Types of Compounds

If elements can be classified as metals, non-metals and metalloids,

compounds can also be classified as acids, bases and salts. What do you think are
the basis of classifying these? These different compounds can be grouped according
to their physical and chemical properties.

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 Acids, bases and salts affect chemistry as well as our day to day life. They can
easily be identified by their taste; that is acids taste sour and bases taste bitter and
salt itself have salty taste. A common method used to determine an acid or a base is
a litmus test, but there are other characteristics that can help you identify acids,
bases and salts.

Fig. 2.3 Color indicator of pH concentration

Fig. 2.4 Specific color of some compounds or mixtures

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Let us find out what are the common characteristics of:

A. Acids

Acids have a sour taste. Like citric acid

that makes the sour taste of lemons, oranges
and other citrus fruits, while acetic acid gives
vinegar its sour taste. An acid will turn litmus
paper red. Litmus is a vegetable dye that turns
red to indicate an acid and blue to indicate a
base. Acids also contain combined hydrogen.
For example, when metals such as zinc are placed in an acid, a reaction will occur.
The acid and zinc will bubble and release hydrogen gas. Acids will release hydrogen
in water as well.

Acids also conduct electricity and react with bases to form water and salt.
Acids are classified as being either strong or weak. A strong acid detaches or
separates in a water solution and a weak acid does not.

B. Bases

Bases are ionic compounds that contain

metal and hydrogen ions. Bases taste bitter and
are slippery when dissolved in water. For
example, if you rub household ammonia
between your fingers, you will feel the
slipperiness of a base. Soap is slippery because
it contains a base as well. When placed on red
litmus paper, bases will turn blue. Bases also release hydroxyl ions in water.
Ammonium hydroxide, or ammonia, is a common base used in compounds like nitric
acid and is also used in household cleaners.

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 Just as acids neutralize bases, a base will also neutralize an acid. For
example, magnesium hydroxide, found in milk of magnesium, neutralizes stomach
acid.

C. Salts

Salt is a combination of acid and

base. There are many chemical compounds
that are classified as salts. The most
common is table salt, or sodium chloride.
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is also
a salt. Salts are typically made of metallic
and non-metallic ions; it separates in water
because the tightly bonded ions present in salts are weakened.

Salts can have different colors and may be any of the five tastes, including
salty, sweet, bitter, sour or savory. Their odor depends on the acid and base it is
comprised of. Salts comprised of strong acids and bases, called strong salts, are
odorless while salts made from weak bases and acids are called weak salts, may
vary depending on the acid or base used to make it. For example, vinegar smells
like acetic acid and cyanides smell like hydrogen cyanide, which has an almond-like
odor.

Importance and Uses of Acids, Bases and Salts In Everyday Living

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 These substances are encountered in our
everyday life. Both Acids and bases make
the critical part and parcel of our
livelihood. They play an important role
inside or outside of our body, from the
formation of the food to the decomposition
of any substance.

Sulfuric acid is a
strong acid whose
single drop can cause a
hollow mark in your
skin. Apart from its too
dangerous property, it
has numerous
applications. The most common application is in the
manufacture of car batteries, in making fertilizers, cleaning
products, and manufacturing of polymers. Sulfuric acid is used
to remove oxide coatings in iron and steel industries and also
used in some solution to unclog drains.

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 The most common form of acetic acid is
vinegar. It is a popular home staple, which
is found in most of the kitchens. People
use it for cooking purposes, and this is
what gives the salad a delicious taste and
pickled vegetables and fruits, their- tart
taste.

Sodium bicarbonate, is commonly known

as baking soda, a regular item in our
kitchens. People use baking soda in
cooking, baking cakes. Being a weak base,
it is safe for human consumption. A
solution of baking soda is commonly used
for cleansing purpose. It is also used as
fire extinguisher; because in high temperature, it releases carbon dioxide as a by-
product.

Everyday we take a bath, but water all

alone is not enough to make us feel
refreshed. We use soap to clean our body,
and these soaps contain sodium
hydroxide as their main ingredients. Not
only in soaps, but also all the cleaning
products including detergents and washing powder.

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 Calcium hydroxide, commonly known as
Hydrated/Slaked lime, is widely used in
cement manufacturing, in neutralizing the
acidity of the soil and treatment of sewage
water. It is also as an additive feed in
improving animal nutrition, is also used
in dental procedures.

Carbonic acid, when it is too hot, surely

most of us would try to find something
refreshing to feel relieved like drinking
soda or cold drinks. These are the
carbonated drinks which, are made by
adding carbon dioxide in water. When
carbon dioxide reacts with water under a
certain pressure, it makes carbonic acid, which causes a refreshing sensation.

Citric acids are found in fruits like

oranges, lemon, and other citrus fruits. It
is widely used as an acidifier and
flavoring agent of food. Citric acids are
also used in de-staining the cloth.

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Magnesium hydroxide is the compound used as anti-
acid or for neutralizing the gastric acids, and also
used in the manufacture of antiperspirant like
deodorant.

Hydrochloric acid is the strong acid

which is found inside our body in the
gastric juice. It helps in the breakdown
of all the potatoes and pizzas and other
carbohydrate food we eat. HCl is also
used in the formation of many organic
compounds like Polyvinyl Chloride and some
pharmaceutical drugs.

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 Ammonia is one of the widely used bases in agriculture, industries, and
homes. It is one of the ingredients of fertilizers. It is used in eliminating
stains and tarnishes of soap from tubs, tiles, floors, and even jewelry.

Common Food Sources of Acids and Bases (Alkaline)

Activity 2.1

List down at least five (5) food materials other than

those given in the figure above

Acidic Basic(Alkaline)

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A.

B. Perform the experimental procedure given below:

I. Objective of the experiment:

1. To be able to determine the pH concentration of some commonly

used drinks in the household

II. Materials Needed:

1 piece medium-sized red cabbage 2 large bowl

10 mL lemon juice (1:1 ratio) strainer

2 brands of coffee 15 plastic cups

2 brands of carbonated drink teaspoon

Table 1. pH range indicator

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III. Procedure:

1. Grate a small red cabbage and place the pieces into a large bowl or pot,
as shown in Figure 1, below.

Figure 1. Grated red cabbage in a pot.

2. Pour boiling water into the bowl to just cover the cabbage. Use caution when
handling the boiling water.
3. Leave the cabbage mixture steeping, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is
room temperature. This may take at least half an hour. The liquid should be
reddish purple in color, as shown in Figure 2, below.

Figure 2. While steeping in the water,

the liquid in the pot should be reddish purple in color.

4. Place a strainer over a second large bowl or pot and pour the mixture through
the strainer to remove the cabbage pulp, as shown in Figure 3, below. Press
down on the pulp in the strainer, such as by using a large spoon, to squeeze
more liquid out of the pulp.

Figure 3. Cabbage pulp being removed

from the mixture using a strainer.

5. In the bowl, you should now have a clear liquid that will either be purple or
blue in color, as shown in Figure 4, below. (It should look darker after the
pulp is removed.) This will be your indicator solution.

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 Figure 4. This shows what the indicator solution
can look like in a clear glass.

6. The color of the liquid will change depending upon the pH. Use Table 1,
below, to figure out the pH of the liquid by observing the color.
7. Set aside your indicator solution. You will use it as your "stock" solution for
your experiments.
8. Next you will test various household solutions with your indicator. Use a
separate plastic cup for each solution you want to test because you do not
want to mix chemicals that do not go well together or contaminate your
results.
9. Fill about one-third of the plastic cup with your cabbage indicator solution.
You can use less indicator solution for each cup if you do not have a lot of
indicator solution.
10. Add drops of a liquid you want to test until you see the solution change in
color. Gently swirl the cup as you add the drops, being careful not to spill the
solution.
11. Record the pH and a description of the each solution in a data table as shown
in Table 2 below.
12. Analyze your results. How does the pH of the different household items you
tested compare to each other? Are you surprised by any of your results?

IV. Results and Observation: Fill in the Table 2 for your observation.

Name of Sample Color pH

1. Lemon juice

2. Coffee #1*

3. Coffee #2*

4. Carbonated drink #1*

5. Carbonated drink #2*

Table 2. Results and observation of pH test

* Please write the brand name used.

V. Conclusion:
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References:

Redmore, Fred H. 2000. Fundamentals of Chemistry. 6th Ed. Prentice Hall

International, Inc. New Jersey

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Chem_p013/
chemistry/make-cabbage-pH-indicator#procedure

https://byjus.com/cbse-notes/cbse-class-10-science-notes-chapter-2-acids-bases-and-
salts

https://www.online-sciences.com/chemistry/types-of-compounds-properties-of-acids-
bases-alkalis-oxides-and-salts/

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