Examining the Significance of Chemical Formulas Using Paper Clips

Chemical symbols and formulas are used to represent the composition of elements, compounds and mixtures. These indicate the elements that are present and the relative number of atoms of each element in the substance. For example, C6H12O6 + 6O2 , represents a mixture of one molecule of the glucose compound(C6H12O6) and 6 molecules of the diatomic element O2. There are 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms in the glucose and 12(6 x 2) oxygen atoms from the 6 molecules of O2. In a chemical formula for a compound or a polyatomic ion, the element with a positive oxidation number(charge) is listed first and the element with a negative oxidation number is listed second. Opposite charges attract, therefore the positive elements(ions) will attach to only the negative elements.

Answer the following questions based on your paper clip models:

1. Which of the above substances(#1 - #8) are elements? _________________________________
2. Which of the above substances(#1 - #8) are compounds?_______________________________
3. Which of the above substances(#1 - #8) are mixtures? _________________________________
4. What is the total number of atoms of all elements in each of the above substances? #1_______ #2_______ #3_______ #4_______ #5_______ #6_______ #7_______ #8_______
5. What is the total number of molecules in each of the above substances? #1_______ #2_______ #3_______ #4_______ #5_______ #6_______ #7_______ #8_______
6. Which of the above substances(#1 - #8) represents binary compounds. __________________ Which of the above substances(#1 - #8) represents ternary compounds. _________________
7. If the charge on R in substance #5 is 6-, what is the charge on Jb? ________
8. If the charge on Jb in substance #7 is 4+, what is the charge on SmR3? ________
9. In substance #1, is the charge on Sm positive or negative? ________
10. In substance #8, if the charge on Jb in 1+ and the charge on Sm in 2- , what is the charge on R?______