This illustrated lesson includes student questions and activities.

1. 1
Chemistry: The Building Blocks of Matter
Common Core Unit
By: Dean Berry Ed. D.
Gregg Berry, B.A.

2. Part One
View, Read, and Think
•
Chemistry
2

3. Chemistry is the study of the building blocks of all matter. Tiny
structures such as atoms, electrons, and molecules are the material
that creates all liquids, solids, and gases.

4. The most basic building block for all
matter is the atom.
Everything we see and breathe is made
of atoms.
4

5. Our bodies are composed of millions of
atoms.
Have the atoms in our bodies been
recycled from other objects? Let’s find
out.
5

6. What is an atom and how
does it function?
6

7. 7

8. The four main structures in an atom include the nucleus,
protons, neutrons, and electrons.

9. Class Discussion
Is there matter that is smaller than atoms
and electrons?
9

10. Particles Smaller than Atoms
In recent years, scientists have discovered
subatomic particles called quarks and neutrinos
that are located inside atoms. Scientists are still
researching and debating the existence and
function of subatomic particles. When you
conduct your own research project, see what you
learn about these new theories.
10

11. In Geneva, Switzerland scientists built the Large Hadron Collider to
create high speed collisions between protons in an attempt to prove
that the Higgs boson particle exists. On March 14, 2013, the
scientists confirmed the existence of the Higgs field which changed
the way scientists view particle physics.
• .
11

12. We know that cosmic rays come from outer space and enter
earth’s atmosphere composed of various subatomic
particles. On earth most of these rays come from the sun.
12

13. Cosmic rays from space are made of billions of subatomic
particles some of which are now identified as neutrinos.
13

14. In November of 2013, scientists studying cosmic rays using a giant
telescope located at the South Pole made one of the most important
discoveries in modern science. Neutrinos, tiny subatomic particles,
had been studied for years. But the 28 neutrinos observed this time
were from beyond our solar system and a billion times more energetic
than solar neutrinos from the sun.
14

15. These new Neutrinos, extremely small particles, have almost no mass and can
travel through any matter without being slowed down or affected in any way.
Scientists believe that billions of neutrinos pass through our bodies continuously.
15

16. Scientists are continuing to study the mysterious composition of all
matter. Only during the last 100 years have scientists begun to
understand the basic composition of matter. The discovery that
atoms combine to make elements and elements combine to make
compounds is relatively recent in history. Scientists know that the
structure of atoms begins with electrons, protons, and neutrons.
16

17. The number of electrons, protons, and neutrons
determine the make up of an element.

18. Class Discussion
•What are elements?
•How many can you name?
18

19. The Periodic Table
19

20. A group of the same kind of atoms
creates an element like gold,
oxygen, calcium, or chlorine.
20

21. 21
Oxygen Aluminum Sodium
Carbon Nickel Lithium
Nitrogen Lead Neon
Chlorine Gold Hydrogen
Calcium Potassium Silicon

22. Different elements have a
different number of electrons
and protons in their atoms.
22

23. Protons=Electrons
Elements, such as hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen,
always have the same number of protons as
electrons. Hydrogen has only one of each. Carbon
has six of each and oxygen has eight of each.
23

24. Protons have a positive charge to balance the negative charge of
electrons. As their name suggests, neutrons are neutral and without a
positive or negative charge.

25. 25

26. Many living and non living things
are made of the element Carbon.
26

27. Class Discussion
• How many things can you think of that are made of
mostly carbon?
• If things made of carbon burn up, what is left over?
• Hints: All living things are composed of some carbon,
dead matter has carbon, intense heat creates different
forms of carbon
27

28. Coal, charcoal, and diamonds are forms of carbon.

29. Diamonds form deep within the earth under extreme pressure
and heat. It takes billions of carbon atoms to create a one carat
diamond. Graphite, a carbon form, is sometimes used in pencils.

30. Diamonds are usually created hundreds of miles
below the earth’s surface and sent to the surface
during violent volcanic eruptions.

31. The element carbon
has many forms.
31

32. 32

33. Combining different elements
together creates compounds
(two or more elements) such as
water, sugar, and salt.
33

34. Class Discussion
1. Which two elements combine to make water?
2. How many hydrogen atoms are necessary to create a
water molecule?
3. Which two elements combine to make carbon dioxide?
34

35. Two different elements bind together
chemically to create molecules which can
represent over two million different
compounds.

36. 36
Two different Elements combined equal a
Compound
Hydrogen + Oxygen = Water
Carbon + Hydrogen + Oxygen = Sugar
Sodium + Chlorine = Table Salt

37. When two or more elements are chemically combined, they become
a compound such as water, ammonia, or carbon dioxide.

38. The number for compound expressions is called a coefficient.
Carbon dioxide has one atom of carbon and two atoms of oxygen.

39. 9
Elements share Electrons
Water is Hydrogen + Oxygen
Rust is Iron + Oxygen
Salt is Sodium + Chlorine
Sugar is Carbon +
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Soap is Sodium + Potassium

40. The human body is composed primarily
of five different elements.
40

41. Class Discussion
Which elements or compounds are found in
what we eat and drink?
Which elements or compounds make up the
human body?
41

42. 42

43. The elements (atoms) in the human body
combine to make specific molecules of
water, proteins and lipids (fats).
43

44. 44

45. The matter around us can take the form of
liquid, gas, or solid.
Water can easily change from a solid ice
cube, into melted liquid, and water vapor in
the air.
45

46. Class Discussion
•Are atoms closer together in water or ice?
•Are they closer together in water vapor or
water?
46

47. When water changes states, the water
molecules become closer together in a
solid and further apart in a gas.
47

48. 48

49. Dry ice will slowly change from a solid to a gas when exposed
to oxygen and higher temperatures.

50. Molecules that are closer together create more
mass and higher density.
Matter with higher density normally is heavier.
50

51. Class Discussion
•Which one has higher density and mass, gold or
aluminum?
•Bowling ball or basketball?
•Wood or steel?
•Plastic or marble?
•Rubber or silver?
51

52. 52

53. 53

54. How do substances
react when they are
combined?
54

55. Putting different substances
together will create
different results.
When two substances
combine chemically by
sharing electrons, they
become a new substance
called a compound.
55

56. Some common compounds
around the home are
classified as acids or bases.
56

57. Class Discussion
• Which foods are high in acid content?
• Is baking soda an acid or a base?
• What do you think might happen if you mix an acid like
vinegar with a base?
57

58. 58
•Taste sour
•Vinegar
•Citrus Fruits
•Stomach Juice
•Soft Drinks
•Batteries
•Taste bitter
•Baking Soda
•Antacids
•Laxatives
•Soap
•Deodorants

59. 59

60. If substances dissolve when
they are combined, they
become a solution.
60

61. 61

62. Class Discussion
What happens when we wash
dirty dishes that have sugar such
as syrup on them?
62

63. 63
SUGAR PARTICLES BROKEN DOWN INTO TINY
MOLECULES

64. Putting some substances together
results in a mixture with all
substances unchanged.
64

65. Class Discussion
Explain how you might make a cake from scratch.
Which ingredients do you mix together?
When you buy a cake mix in a box, what is in the mix?
65

66. 66

67. 67
What is Dirt?

68. Check-up and Review
Raise your green card if you believe
the statement is true or your red card
if you think it is false.
68

69. True or False-1
Elements like gold and
oxygen are made up of only
one kind of atom.
69

70. True-1
70

71. True or False-2
The human body is
made of cells rather
than atoms.
71

72. False-2
72

73. True or False-3
Compound like water and
sugar are made of more than
one kind of element.
73

74. True-3
74

75. True or False-4
A bowling ball and a ping
pong ball have similar density
but different weight.
75

76. False-4
76

77. True or False-5
A pile of ashes and a
diamond are both made of
carbon atoms.
77

78. True-5
78

79. True or False-6
When a person is
cremated the left over
ashes are mostly carbon.
79

80. True-6
80

81. True or False-7
Hydrogen combined with
oxygen (H2O) creates the
compound salt.
81

82. False-7
82

83. True or False-8
Combining Oxygen and
Iron creates rust.
83

84. True-8
84

85. True or False-9
The human body is made
of more than 65% water
and 20% protein.
85

86. True-9
86

87. True or False-10
Soap, vinegar, and
baking soda are all
acids.
87

88. False-10
88

89. True or False-11
Oranges, cokes, battery
fluid, and stomach juices
are all sources of acid.
89

90. True-11
90

91. True or False-12
Water is used to clean dishes and
wash clothes because it is an
excellent solvent capable of
dissolving many compounds.
91

92. True-12
92

93. True or False-13
Dirt is made of sand, rocks,
dead plants, dead animals,
and animal waste.
93

94. Chemistry Quiz 1
1. Coal, Graphite, Diamonds, Ashes
2. Liquid, Gas, Solid
3. Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen and
Oxygen
4. Iron plus Oxygen
5. Oxygen and Hydrogen
6. Dead Plants, Sand, Dead Bugs,
Minerals
94

95. Chemistry Quiz 2
1. Two or more elements or compounds
without a chemical bond.
2. Sand, Gravel and Water
3. DNA, Lipids, Proteins and Water
4. Nucleus, Electrons, Protons
5. Matter that contains all the same
atoms.
95

96. Chemistry Quiz 3
1. Gold, Sodium, Lead, Oxygen, Carbon
2. Two different Elements combined
3. Baking Soda, Soap, Deodorants
4. Citrus Fruits, Vinegar, Batteries
5. A substance dissolves when added to another
6. Water Molecules that are far apart create this
state
96

97. Chemistry Test 4
1. Water, salt, sugar, soap, and rust.
2. Dirt, concrete, salad dressing, noodle soup.
3. Ashes, coal, graphite, diamonds.
4. Gas, liquid, solid
5. Salt water, carbonated water, fruit bunch drink.
97