Chemistry A Study Of Matter Worksheet - Fill Online, Printable ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one, carefully and clearly.

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1. A mixture (is/is not) a chemical combining of substances.

→ Mixtures are physical combinations — like mixing salt and sand. No chemical bonds form between the substances. So, it is not a chemical combining.

✔ Answer: is not

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2. In a compound the (atoms/molecules) are (chemically/physically) combined so that the elements that make up the compound (retain/lose) their identities and (do/do not) take on a new set of properties.

→ Compounds are made when atoms bond chemically (like H₂O). The original elements (hydrogen and oxygen) lose their individual properties — water doesn’t act like hydrogen gas or oxygen gas. So:

- Smallest units in compounds? Atoms (they combine to form molecules, but the basic building blocks are atoms).
- Combined? Chemically.
- Do elements retain identity? No — they lose it.
- Do they take on new properties? Yes.

✔ Answer: atoms, chemically, lose, do not

*(Note: “do not” here means they DO take on new properties — the phrase is “(do/do not) take on...” → correct choice is “do” — wait, let’s re-read.)*

Actually:
“...the elements... (retain/lose) their identities and (do/do not) take on a new set of properties.”

If they lose their identities, then they DO take on new properties. So the second blank should be do.

Wait — the sentence says:
“...so that the elements... (retain/lose) their identities and (do/do not) take on a new set of properties.”

This is tricky. If they lose their identities, then they DO take on new properties. So:

→ lose their identities → and DO take on new properties.

But the option is written as “(do/do not)” — meaning we pick either “do” or “do not”.

So if they lose identities, they DO take on new properties → so answer is do.

But let’s check standard chemistry definition:

In a compound, elements lose their individual properties and the compound has new properties.

So:
“lose” their identities → and “do” take on new properties.

But the way the question is phrased:
“...the elements that make up the compound (retain/lose) their identities and (do/do not) take on a new set of properties.”

The “and” connects two things:
1. They lose their identities.
2. They do take on new properties.

So both blanks: lose and do

But wait — the last part says “(do/do not) take on...” — if they lose identities, they DO take on new properties → so “do”

However, sometimes this is phrased as “do not retain their original properties” — but here it’s “take on a new set” — which they do.

✔ Final for #2: atoms, chemically, lose, do

*(Correction: Actually, looking again — the phrase is “(do/do not) take on a new set of properties.” Since they DO take on new properties, the answer is “do”. But some might argue the wording is ambiguous — however, scientifically, compounds DO have new properties. So “do” is correct.)*

Wait — I think I made a mistake. Let me re-read:

“In a compound the (atoms/molecules) are (chemically/physically) combined so that the elements that make up the compound (retain/lose) their identities and (do/do not) take on a new set of properties.”

Standard textbook answer:
Elements in a compound LOSE their identities and the compound DOES have new properties → so the elements (as part of the compound) DO take on new properties? Or does the compound take on new properties?

Actually, the sentence says: “the elements... (retain/lose) their identities and (do/do not) take on a new set of properties.”

This is poorly worded. The elements themselves don’t “take on” new properties — the compound does. But in context, it means the resulting substance (compound) has new properties, so the elements, as part of it, are no longer acting as themselves — so they “lose” identity and the system “does” have new properties.

I think the intended answer is:
atoms, chemically, lose, do

But let’s confirm with logic:
If you have H and O separately — they are flammable and support combustion. In water (H₂O), they are neither — so they lost their identities, and the compound has new properties → so yes, “do” take on new properties (meaning the combination does).

✔ So: atoms, chemically, lose, do

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3. The smallest identifiable unit of a compound is a(n) __________, which is made up of __________ which are chemically bonded.

→ Smallest unit of a compound is a molecule (for covalent compounds) or formula unit (for ionic), but at this level, “molecule” is often used broadly.

It is made up of atoms chemically bonded.

✔ Answer: molecule, atoms

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4. True or False: A mixture is always made up of a combination of elements.

→ No! Mixtures can be made of compounds too. Example: air is a mixture of N₂, O₂ (elements) AND CO₂, H₂O (compounds). Or salt water — salt is a compound, water is a compound.

So false.

✔ Answer: False

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5. In a mixture, the substances (lose/retain) their identities.

→ Yes! In a mixture, substances keep their own properties. Salt in water still tastes salty, water still wets things.

✔ Answer: retain

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**6. In a mixture the substances involved (can/cannot) be separated by a simple physical process.
In a compound the elements involved (can/cannot) be separated by a simple physical process because the elements are (physically combined/chemically bonded).**

→ Mixtures: can be separated physically (filtering, evaporation, etc.)
Compounds: cannot be separated physically — need chemical reactions, because elements are chemically bonded.

✔ Answer: can, cannot, chemically bonded

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7. True or False: An element can be broken down into a simpler substance.

→ No. Elements are pure substances made of only one type of atom. You can’t break them down further by chemical means. (Nuclear reactions can, but that’s beyond basic chemistry.)

✔ Answer: False

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8. The smallest identifiable unit of an element is a(n) __________.

→ Atom.

✔ Answer: atom

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9. From the following list of substances, circle the ones that are elements:

List:
- silver → element (Ag)
- carbon dioxide → compound (CO₂)
- wood → mixture (organic stuff)
- alcohol → compound (C₂H₅OH)
- chromium → element (Cr)
- water → compound (H₂O)
- hydrogen → element (H)
- carbon → element (C)
- nitrogen → element (N)
- oxygen → element (O)
- gold → element (Au)
- sugar → compound (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁)
- salt → compound (NaCl)
- air → mixture (N₂, O₂, etc.)
- sulfur → element (S)
- magnesium → element (Mg)
- nickel → element (Ni)

So elements to circle:
silver, chromium, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, gold, sulfur, magnesium, nickel

✔ Answer: Circle those ten.

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10. Explain how to separate the sugar and water in a solution of sugar and water.

→ Sugar dissolves in water — it’s a homogeneous mixture. To separate, you can evaporate the water. Heat the solution — water turns to vapor, leaves sugar behind.

You could also use distillation if you want to collect the water too.

Simple answer: Evaporate the water — heat the solution until the water boils away, leaving the sugar behind.

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11. How would you separate a mixture of alcohol and water?

→ Alcohol and water mix completely (miscible), so you can’t filter them. But they have different boiling points: alcohol boils at ~78°C, water at 100°C. So you can use distillation — heat the mixture, alcohol vapor comes off first, condense it back to liquid, collect separately.

✔ Answer: Use distillation — heat the mixture and collect the alcohol vapor first since it boils at a lower temperature than water.

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12. How would you separate sand and water?

→ Sand doesn’t dissolve — it’s a heterogeneous mixture. You can pour it through a filter — sand gets caught, water goes through. Or let it settle and pour off the water (decanting).

Simplest: Filter it — use a paper filter to catch the sand, water passes through.

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Now, compiling all answers:

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Final Answer:

1. is not
2. atoms, chemically, lose, do
3. molecule, atoms
4. False
5. retain
6. can, cannot, chemically bonded
7. False
8. atom
9. silver, chromium, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, gold, sulfur, magnesium, nickel
10. Evaporate the water by heating the solution; the water turns to vapor and leaves the sugar behind.
11. Use distillation — heat the mixture and collect the alcohol vapor first since it boils at a lower temperature than water.
12. Filter the mixture — sand will be trapped by the filter paper while water passes through.