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Nature of Matter: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

Atoms joined as one particle

Look at one tiny piece of hydrogen gas. It is not one atom, the smallest particle of an element. It is two atoms, joined.

Hydrogen gas: two hydrogen atoms are joined.
Step 1 of 3
  1. Hydrogen gas: two hydrogen atoms are joined.
  2. Oxygen gas: two oxygen atoms are joined.
  3. Water: two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom are joined.

A molecule is a group of atoms joined together as one particle.

The rule

A molecule is a group of atoms joined together. One kind of atom in a molecule means an element. Two or more kinds mean a compound.

Three molecules, and the kinds of atom in each
MoleculeAtoms in itKinds of atomBelongs to
Hydrogen2 hydrogen1An element
Oxygen2 oxygen1An element
Water2 hydrogen, 1 oxygen2A compound

Pick a substance. Slide the molecules. Match the goal.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 What pure means here
  3. 2 Substances that will not come apart
  4. 3 An agreed short name
  5. 4 Joined in a fixed ratio
  6. 5 Together, but not joined
  7. 6 Trying to get the parts back
  8. 7 Sorting everyday things into piles
  9. 8 Atoms joined as one particle
  10. 9 Which states are mixed?
  11. 10 Checkpoint: molecules and mixtures
  12. 11 Between a metal and a non-metal
  13. 12 Minerals from the ground
  14. 13 Same acid, different gas
  15. 14 What counts as matter?
  16. 15 Checkpoint: metalloids, minerals, the acid test and matter
  17. 16 The big picture
  18. 17 Track quiz

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