After reading these notes, test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Pure Substances

Matter can be classified into several categories. Two broad categories are mixtures and pure substances. A pure substance has a constant composition.

What are pure substances?

What are pure substances?

  • All specimens of a pure substance have exactly the same makeup and properties.
    • Any sample of sucrose (table sugar) consists of 42.1% carbon, 6.5% hydrogen, and 51.4% oxygen by mass.
    • Any sample of sucrose also has the same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
Pure substances - elements

Pure substances - elements

  • Pure substances may be divided into two classes: elements and compounds.
  • Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical changes are called elements.
    • Iron, silver, gold, aluminum, sulfur, oxygen, and copper are familiar examples of the more than 100 known elements.
Compounds

Compounds

  • Pure substances that can be broken down by chemical changes are called compounds.
    • This breakdown may produce either elements or other compounds, or both.
  • Mercury(II) oxide, an orange, crystalline solid, can be broken down by heat into the elements mercury and oxygen.
Compounds - 2

Compounds - 2

  • The properties of combined elements are different from those in the free, or uncombined, state.
    • For example, free sodium is an element that is a soft, shiny, metallic solid. Free chlorine is an element that is a yellow-green gas.
    • Sodium and chlorine combine to form sodium chloride (table salt), a compound that is a white, crystalline solid.

Effects of Impurities in a Sample

Chemically pure substances have exact and specific melting and boiling points. Adding impurities affects these values.

Reduces range of temperatures

  • Reduces the range of temperatures at which the sample melts or boils.
Jump to other topics
1

Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2

Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3

Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1

The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2

Periodic Trends

3.3

Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4

Halogens

3.5

Noble gases, group 18

3.6

Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7

Functional Group Chemistry

3.8

Alkanes

3.9

Alcohols

3.10

Halogenoalkanes

4

Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5

Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6

Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7

Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

Practice questions on Pure Substances

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
Answer all questions on Pure Substances

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium