Paper Clip Activity

Topic: The difference between elements, mixtures, and compounds

Materials

- 1 bag of different sized paper clips per student

- handout to accompany paper clip activity

- transparencies and overhead projector

Activities

Intro

-  before we move into writing and balancing chemical equations, I want to take the time to make sure we all remember what elements, mixtures, and compounds are, and also what coefficients and subscripts mean in a formula.

Paper clip activity

-  instruct students: the paper clips represent three different types of atoms with symbols: Jb = jumbo, R = regular, Sm = small

-  using the appropriate paper clips, make the formulas listed on your handout and place the finished substance in its box on the chart

-  teacher circulates during activity and helps students

Discussion

-  which of the substances you made are elements? Why? So, what would be a good definition of an element?

-  which of the substances you made are mixtures? Why? Def of mixture?

-  which of the substances you made are compounds? Why? Def of compound?

-  what would be the difference between 2 R and R2?

-  maybe compare to def’s in book…


Paper Clip Formulas

In your bag there are different sized paper clips. The paper clips represent atoms of three different types. The following atomic symbols will be used to represent each type of atom:

Jb = jumbo R = regular Sm = striped

Using the appropriate paper clips make the following substances listed below, and place the finished substance in its box on the chart.

Sample 1: JbSm2 / Sample 2: Jb2Sm and R2
Sample 3: 2Sm and R3 / Sample 4: Sm3
Sample 5: Jb2R / Sample 6: 4R

Identify each substance as an element, compound or a mixture

1.______

2.______

3.______

4.______

5.______

6.______