1. A mixture is made up of two or more substances that are not chemically combined. 2. A pure substance is made up of
one single element of compound and is not mixed with any substance. 3. To decide which method to use in order to
separate a mixture into pure samples, or remove impurities, we must look at the properties of each substance.
Separating a Solid from
a Liquid: depends on
whether the solid is
soluble in the liquid
Filtration: used to
separate insoluble
solid particles from
a liquid (e.g. sand,
clay, dust from
water)
Process: 1. Pour mixture into filter
tunnel lined with filter paper 2. Collect
filtrate (water) that pass through the
paper 3. Collect residue and dry on a
piece of filter paper
Filtration works because of difference in particle size; the
smaller liquid particles are able to pass through the pores of
the filter paper and become the filtrate, while the insoluble
solid particles are larger and unable to fit through so they
are trapped by the filter paper and become residue.
Evaporation to
dryness: used
to separate
soluble solids
from a
liquid/solution
Process: Heat
solution until all the
water has boiled off
The solid obtained through evaporation
to dryness may not be a pure sample as
any soluble impurities will stick to the
solid once the water has boiled off
Crystallisation: used to
obtain a pure solid
sample from a solution
(since Evaporation to
Dryness may not obtain
pure samples); works
well with substances
that decompose on
strong heating
Process: A solution is heated until it becomes
a saturated solution (or a solution in which
no more solute can dissolve). By then
allowing it to cool, the amount of solute that
the solvent can hold is then lowered, forcing
some amount of solute to form pure crystals.
(the solvent must not be allowed to boil!)
Crystallisation works because the the
solubility of the solute changes (increases)
as the temperature changes (increases).
Fast cooling results in a large number of small
crystals because the crystals don't have time to
form, but slow cooling allows the crystals to
grow larger and results in a small number of
large crystals.
Separating
Solids from
Solids
Using a suitable
solvent: choosing
a solvent in
which only one
solute in the
mixture is soluble
Process: Add solvent to
dissolve solutes, filter
mixture, and evaporate
filtrate to dryness --
Chapters 6 & 7: solubility
of different compounds
Sublimation: using
sublimation to
separate a solute
which sublimes
from another solute
in the mixture which
is stable to heat
Process: Heat the mixture and allow one
substance to sublime and enter a gaseous
state; place a cool surface above to collect
the sublimed substance and allow it to
condense to return to a solid state.
Magnetic attraction: can
be used to separate a
magnetic substance from
a non-magnetic one
Separating Liquids
from Solids
Simple distillation: used
to obtain a pure solvent
from a solution
Process: Boil the solution in a distillation flask; the water to vaporises,
rises and enters the condenser. A thermometer is usually suspended at
the side arm of the flask to measure the boiling point of the substance
being distilled and should not be dipped into the solution itself. The water
vapour of the boiled solvent is cooled and condenses in the condenser
(liquid usually enters the condenser from the bottom so the cooling liquid
can only escape if the outer water jacket is full). The pure liquid form of
the solvent is then collected as a distillate in the receiver; as the
distillation process continues, the remaining solution in the flask
becomes more and more concentrated until it finally becomes a solid
residue.
Simple distillation only
works because the
solvent has a lower
boiling point than the
solute
Separating Liquids:
depends on
whether or not the
liquids are miscible
(can mix with each
other)
Using a Separate Funnel:
used to separate
immiscible liquids
Process: the mixture is poured into a separating
funnel supported by a report stand; the liquids
are then allowed to separate completely (the
denser liquid sinks and two distinct layers are
formed) before the funnel tap is opened to let
the bottom layer drained out
Fractional Distillation:
used to separate
miscible liquids with
significantly different
boiling points
Process: A fractional column filled with beads and
attached to a condenser is attached to a
round-bottomed flash filled with the mixture e.g.
ethanol and water. When the solution is heated,
the 2 liquids rise up as vapour; because the
condensation point of a liquid is the same as its
boiling point, the liquid with a higher boiling
point only needs to cool down a little bit to reach
its condensation point; because the temperature
is higher toward the bottom of the flask, the
liquid with a higher boiling point condenses first.
The ethanol which has a lower boiling point rises
to the top and condenses through the condenser
before falling into the receiver, before allowing
the water to reach its boiling point at the top and
condense in its turn
Fractional distillation can be used to obtain
ethanol produced by the fermentation of
glucose solution
Chromatography: used to
separate two or more
solutes which dissolve in
the same solvent
Process: A line is drawn with a
pencil 1cm away from the bottom
of the paper at a drop of the
solution is dropped on the line. The
paper is then dipped into a glass
tank containing the solvent and the
paper soaks it up, dissolving the
dyes while travelling up the paper,
carrying them along. The more
soluble the dye, the further it will
move up.
Chromatography works because of the
different solubilities of the solutes, and
because of the presence of a mobile
phase (solvent), a stationary phase (the
paper) and adsorption (the interaction
of the solute particles with the
stationary phase)
Interpreting the Chromatogram: 1.
Pure substances give only one spot
on the chromatogram, while a
mixture gives several coloured
spots of separated dye. 2. Rf values
(retention factor) = the distance
travelled by the substance/distance
travelled by the solvent (measured
from pencil line to solvent front) 3.
Samples are analysed to identify
the components present in them
since the same dyes produce the
same coloured spots at the same
height e.g. Governments used
chromatography to find out the
substances contained in certain
food dyes to make sure they are
safe for consumption
A locating agent is sprayed on the
chromatogram to cause colourless
substances to show up as coloured
spots so that we can calculate their
Rf value and identify them
Determining purity: helps us
detect harmful impurities and
ensure that products meet
quality standards
A solid is pure if it has an exact
and constant melting point, and
it melts completely at that point
Impurities lower the melting point of a solid (only
if they are soluble!) because foreign substances
disturb the forces which hold the solid particles
together, and so a smaller amount of kinetic
energy in the form of heat is needed to overcome
these forces and cause the liquid to melt
Impurities cause the solid to melt over a range of
temperatures. The disruption of the forces holding
the solid particles together, caused by the
contaminants, causes the molecules closes to the
impurities to melt first, at a lower temperature,
while the rest of the structure melts nearer to the
normal melting point
A liquid is pure if it has
an exact and constant
boiling point.
The mobile particles in the liquid
state rearrange themselves around
the impurities to gain maximum
attraction and stability, thus even
more energy in the form of heat is
required to break these bonds and
cause the liquid to enter a gaseous
state; impurities also cause the
boiling to take place over a rage of
temperatures
Kinetic Particle Theory:
States of Matter &
Physical Change
States of Matter: the 3 states of matter are solids, liquids and gas
Solids: fixed volume,
fixed shape; cannot
be compressed
the particles in a solid
are held together in a
neat orderly fashion by
extremely strong
forces of attraction
which prevent them
from moving around
freely; they only have
enough kinetic energy
to vibrate/rotate in
their places. Since the
particles are already
close together, they
cannot be compressed
any further.
Liquids: fixed volume,
no fixed shape, cannot
be compressed
the particles in a liquid
are held together in a
disorderly manner by
weaker forces of
attraction than in a
solid, which allows
them to move around
freely; they have more
kinetic energy and are
not held in their
places, giving them no
fixed shape. However
the particles in a solid
are still relatively close
to each other and thus
cannot be compressed
as well.
Gases: no fixed volume,
no fixed shape, can be
compressed
the particles in a gas are
spread far apart as the
forces of attraction
between them are even
weaker than those of a
liquid, allowing them to
move around rapidly in
any direction, thus they
have no fixed shape.
They have a lot of kinetic
energy and are not fixed
in their places. Because
there is a lot of space
between the gas
particles, they can be
forced together, hence
gases can be compressed
The Kinetic Particle Theory states that
all matter is made up of tiny particles in
constant random motion; this theory
can be used to explain/describe the
different states of matter & their
property differences, as well as the
physical changes that place within
them.
Physical Change: when matter is heated
or cooled, kinetic energy is taken
out/given in in the form of kinetic energy,
causing the particles to lose/gain kinetic
energy, and thus change in state (solid =
least energy, gas = most energy); does
not produce new substances, involves
changes in state and dissolving
Melting: solid
to liquid
Heat energy is absorbed by the solid
particles and is converted into kinetic
energy; during this time, the temperature
of the solid rises. The kinetic energy gained
by the solid is used to overcome the strong
forces of attraction between its particles,
during which the temperature plateaus. The
particles are now closely packed in a
random manner and can move freely about
the liquid; the temperature continues
rising.
Freezing:
liquid to
solid
When the liquid is cooled, it loses kinetic energy in the
form of heat, during which the temperature decreases.
When it reaches the freezing point, the particles begin
settling in their fixed positions and forming bonds of
attraction; they can now only vibrate in their fixed
positions. Here the temperature remains the same. When
the liquid has become a solid, its temperature continues
to drop.
Boiling:
Liquid to
gas
The liquid absorbs kinetic energy in the form of heat, during which the
temperature rises. When the boiling point is reached, this kinetic energy is used
to overcome the forces of attraction between the particles, and the
temperature plateaus. Finally, the particles have enough energy to move
around rapidly in any direction, and are spaced far apart, and the temperature
continues rising as they gain kinetic energy.
Evaporation:
liquid
to
gas
The process of evaporation is similar to that of boiling,
however it happens at temperatures below boiling point and
takes place more slowly. This is because only the liquid
particles on the surface are closer to the heat source and
gain enough kinetic energy to enter the gaseous state
Condensation:
gas
to
liquid
When gas comes into contact with a cool surface, it loses kinetic energy in the
form of heat, and gains forces of attraction which cause it to be packed
together in a non-orderly manner like in a liquid. The loss in kinetic energy
means it can only move about freely instead of rapidly in any direction.
Sublimation:
solid to gas
When a solid goes past its melting/freezing
point, the particles on the surface gain
enough energy to overcome the forces of
attraction and immediately start moving
around rapidly in any direction; they have
now entered the gaseous state
Diffusion: the
movement of
particles from a
region of higher
concentration to
a region of lower
concentration;
proves the KPT
(that matter is
made up of small
particles in
constant random
motion)
In gases, the gas particles which are moving around rapidly in any
direction move into the spaces between the air particles around
them. In liquids, liquid particles which can move freely about the
liquid move (diffuse) into the spaces between the liquid particles
as well
Gases with a
lower molecular
mass (lower mass
of each particle)
diffuse/move
faster than those
with a higher
molecular mass
The higher the temperature (of the surroundings), the
higher the rate of diffusion; since heat travels from a
hotter area to a colder area, when placed in an
environment with a higher temperature, the
substances gain more kinetic energy in a shorter
amount of time, which enables them to move and thus
diffuse faster.
Physics
Measurement and density
Physical Quantities: a
quantity that can be
measured and has an SI unit
and numerical magnitude
Base Quantities (and SI
units): Length, metre,
m; Mass, kilogram, kg;
Time, second, s;
temperature, kelvin, K
Measurement of Length:
precision is the smallest unit an
instrument can measure; often
when we are not careful in our
readings parallax errors may
result
Metre ruler:
lengths of
up to one
metre
Steel tape:
lengths
over a
metre
Cloth tape:
measurements over
a curved surface
Vernier Callipers: precision of
0.01cm/0.1mm; reading on the main
scale is done to 0.1cm/1mm -- read the
one to the left of the zero, reading on
vernier scale is to 0.01cm/0.1mm --
read the mark which coincides with the
main scale
Positive zero error: vernier scale 0 is
right of main scale 0; count zero error
from the left and minus the error
later; Negative zero error: vernier
scale 0 is left of main scale 0, count 0
error from the right and add the error
later
Micrometer screw gauge: precision of
0.01mm/0.001cm; read the main scale
immediately left of the thimble -- to
0.1mm, then read the line aligned
with the centre line on the thimble --
to 0.01mm
Positive zero error: zero
below the datum line;
negative zero error: zero
above the datum line
Measurement of Time: can be
done using stopwatches, clocks
or pendulum; period is the time
it takes the pendulum to go
through a to and fro movement
to return to its original position
Precision vs. Accuracy: precision is two
measurements getting as close to each
other as possible, and accuracy is a
measurement getting as close to the
known value as possible
Density:
mass/volume;
denser objects
sink, less dense
objects float
Sound
What is sound?: Sound is a form of energy that is
transferred from one point to another in the form
of a longitudinal wave which travels in the same
direction as a vibrating source placed in a medium;
waves transfer energy and not matter!
Sound waves travel at different speeds in
different mediums -- they travel the fastest in
solids and the slowest in air because solid
particles are the closest together so they
pass energy to each other more quickly
Characteristics
of
Sound
Waves
The vibrating sources displaces the
medium particles around it, causing
sound waves to propagate (spread)
in a series of compressions (regions
of higher air pressure) and
rarefactions (regions of lower air
pressure)
Wavelength: the distance
between the centres of
two consecutive
compressions/rarefactions
Period: the time it
takes for one
rarefaction and one
compression (one
cycle)
Frequency: the
number of cycles in a
given unit of time;
number of cycles in a
second is Hertz (Hz) --
the higher the
frequency, the higher
the pitch; frequency
is calculated as
1/period
Amplitude: a wave
particles maximum
disturbance from its
undisturbed position;
the larger the
amplitude the louder
the sound
Uses of Sound -- Echoes
Echoes are the repetition
of a sound due to the
reflection of sound, which
happens when it is
reflected off a hard and
flat surface
Can be used for
measuring
distances/locating
objects by taking note of
the time interval before
the reflected signal and
using the speed of
sound to work out the
distance
Thermal Transfer & Temperature
Measuring
Temperature
Temperature:
how hot or cold
and object is
Heat: the
amount of
thermal energy
being
transferred from
a hotter to a
colder region
Measured with
thermometric
substances which have
physical properties --
known as
thermometric
properties -- which vary
continuously and
linearly with
temperature
Mercury-/Alcohol-in-glass
thermometers contain
mercury/alcohol which
have fixed masses but
volumes that vary with
temperature
Electrical voltage or electromotive
force is used in a thermocouple
thermometer (which have two
junctions placed in different
temperatures to figure out the
corresponding temperature for
each voltage; then one junction is
placed into a cold junction and the
other junction is used to measure
and the voltage shown tells us the
temperature)
Thermal Energy
Transfer
On a molecular level...when the
temperature increases, the average kinetic
energy of the molecules increase, causing
them to move faster and change direction
more quickly
Conduction: the transfer of thermal energy
through a medium without any flow of the
medium; happens when particles gain kinetic
energy through the gain of thermal energy and
collide with their neighbours, making them vibrate,
and happens faster in metals because more
thermal energy is transferred via the motion of
free electrons; works worst in liquids and gases
because the molecules are spaced further apart,
making the collision process slower
Convection: the transfer of thermal energy through
the convection currents in a fluid (e.g. liquids or gas)
due to differences in density; when the liquid is
heated at the bottom, it expands in volume, causing
it to decrease in density and therefore rise. The
upper region is cooler in comparison, and has a
higher density, thus it sinks
Radiation: the transfer of thermal energy in the form of electromagnetic waves
e.g. infrared radiation without the aid of a medium -- good emitters are good
absorbers, and both are different from conductors. Dull and black surfaces are
better emitters/absorbers, object's with higher surface temperature are better
emitters, and objects with larger surface areas are better emitters/absorbers
Practical uses
Good Conductors can be used for cooking
utensils, soldering irons, or heat
exchanges in laundromats to heat clean
water to an ideal temperature for
washing
Bad conductors can be used as table mats,
utensil handles, warm clothing,
double-glazed windows and sawdust
Convection is used to help heat electric
kettles, help the air-conditioner cool the
room, and in household water systems
which help push cold toilet water down
and bring hot bathing water up??
Radiation can be used in
greenhouses or to design
vacuum flasks to minimise
heat loss through
radiation/conduction/convection
Biology
Organisms
and their
Environment
Food Chains & Food
Webs
Food Chains: shows
the energy flow
within a particular
ecosystem
Sun: initial energy
source for most
communities of
living things
Consumers: eat other
organisms to obtain
their nutrients;
primary consumer
eats producer,
secondary consumer
eats primary
consumer, tertiary
consumer eats
secondary consumer
Decomposers:
organisms that feed on
dead or decaying
matter/animal faeces
and break them down
into simpler material to
be absorbed by the soil,
thus returning the
nutrients from dead
organisms to the soil
where they can utilised
by producers
Decomposers
break down
substances through
decomposition (a
chemical process)
in order to gain
their nutrients,
while Detritivores
simply feed on
these
dead/decaying
matter
Heterotrophs:
cannot synthesise
their own food
and have to rely
on other
organisms for
nutrients aka
consumers
Trophic level: the
position of an
organism in a food
chain, food web or
pyramid
Producers: organisms
which make their
own food/obtain
their own nutrients;
usually green plants
which utilise
photosynthesis, the
process of harnessing
the Sun's nergy in
order to produce
food
Autotrophs: can
produce their own
food from the
substances in
their
surroundings aka
producers
Food Web:
network of
interconnected
food chains
Energy transfer: only 10 percent
of energy is passed on to the
next trophic level, as the rest is
used for life processes like
movement and digestion, for
heat energy and passed as
faeces to decomposers; because
of the energy loss there is
seldom more than 5 trophic
levels in a food chain
Because sunlight is
converted into heat or
chemical energy and
lost to the environment
in that way, the energy
in an ecosystem is
non-cyclical (does not
return to its origin)
The Carbon Cycle: Carbon
dioxide is used to create
chemical energy by plants
through photosynthesis; when
animals or other organisms eat
these plants, the carbon is
passed to them; when
microorganisms feed on the
waste material of these animals
the carbon is passed to them as
well. Carbon is then released
back into the atmosphere
through respiration or
decomposition or decay; in this
way carbon too is a non-cyclical
Characteristics of an
Ecosystem
Biotic: living things e.g.
producers, carnivores,
herbivores, omnivores,
detritivores
Commensalism:
one species
benefits and the
other is
unaffected e.g. a
bird and a tree
Mutualism: both
species beneftit
Parasitism:
one species
benefits while
the other is at
a
disadvantage
(but generally
doesn't die)
Oppositional
Predation:
one species
feeding on
and killing
the other
species
Competition: two species
fighting for the same
resources; may or may
not include direct
interference with each
other e.g. two plant roots
fighting for water in the
soil
Pyramids of Numbers & Biomass
Pyramid of Numbers: shows the
population numbers at each stage of
the food chain; as energy is lost to
the surroundings from one trophic
level to the next, there is increasingly
less amount of energy to support the
next trophic level and thus the
number of organisms decreases as
the trophic level increases
The shape of the 'pyramid'
may vary; sometimes the
producer is a large plant
like a tree which can
support many primary
consumers, supposing the
primary consumers are all
small animals such as
insects; in this case there
is a narrow base.
Pyramid of Biomass: shows the dry
mass of the organisms at each
trophic level; as it decreases from
one trophic level to the next, the
pyramid always gets narrower to
the top -- the dry mass always
decreases because since energy is
lost from one trophic level to the
next, logically there would have to
be more of one organism than the
organisms on the next level in order
for their energy needs to be met
Cell Structure & Organisation
Movements across cell
membranes
Osmosis: the diffusion of
water particles from an area
of higher concentration to an
area of lower concentration
through a partially permeable
membrane
In a solution with higher
solute concentration (lower
water potential)
Plant Cells: water leaves
the cell through osmosis,
causing the cytoplasm to
shrink away from the cell
wall (apparently it is the
vacuole that shrinks in
volume?) and the cell to
become flaccid; the plant
wilts and is unable to
absorb sunlight
Animal Cells: cells lose water
through osmosis and shrink,
becoming wrinkled/crenated;
this does not happen inside our
bodies because the kidney
carries out osmoregulation to
ensure our blood has the same
concentration as our cells
In a solution with a lower
solute concentration and
higher water potential
Plant cells: water enters the
cells through osmosis,
causing the cytoplasm to
push against the strong
cellulose cell wall, which
prevents it from bursting and
causes the cell to become
turgid, allowing the plant to
stand upright and absorb
sunlight for photosynthesis.
Animal Cells: when animal
cells gain water through
osmosis, they swell and
burst (or lyse) as they have
no strong cel walls to
prevent them from doing so)
Diffusion: particles move from
an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower
concentration; particles have to
be free to move, thus diffusion
does not occur in solids
Diffusion allows inhaled air to diffuse
from the region of higher concentration
within the alveoli to the region of lower
concentration in the blood circulating
through the lungs/oxygen from arteries
to the tissues
Causes digested food
molecules to diffuse from
the small intestine to the
capillaries within the
villi
Concentration gradients:
solution with a low solute
concentration has a high
water concentration and
high water potential, and
vice versa
Multicellular and
Unicellular Organisms
Surface Area to Volume Ratio: cells have to
interact with their environment in order to
survive -- absorbing gases and food
molecules and eliminating waste products --
and the amount of interaction depends on
their surface area. The bigger a cell gets, the
smaller its SA:V, meaning the amount of
materials it can pass to the interior is
smaller. IT cannot get too big otherwise it
will be unable to survive!
Red blood cells: the main function of the red
blood cell is to transport oxygen from the
body cells and bring carbon dioxide to the
lungs; its biconcave shape gives it a larger
SA:V and allows more oxygen/CO2 to diffuse
in and out of it more quickly
Root hair cells: large surface area of the
cells gives it a large SA:V and allows it to
absorb more water and mineral nutrients
from the soil and transport it to the plant
Small intestine: the small intestine is covered
in folds known as villi, which give it a larger
surface area and thus a larger SA:V, allowing
it to absorb more nutrients for the body
Cell size: cytoplasm, cell
wall/membrane
(regulates movement of
substances in and out of
the cell), nucleus
(controls all activities of
the cell and contains
genetic material),
chloroplasts (contains
chloroplasts, which
absorb light energy to
go through
photosynthesis),
mitochondria (produces
ATP through
respiration), vacuole
Transport
System in
Living
Things
Blood Vessels
Arteries: carry blood away from
the heart towards an organ e.g.
Aorta: heart to rest of the body, to
liver: hepatic artery, to kidney:
renal artery, to lungs: pulmonary
Arteries have thick,
muscular walls; because
the walls are thick, the
inner passageway is
smaller, which increases
blood pressure. They
transport oxygenated
blood with the exception
of the pulmonary artery
which transport
deoxygenated blood
from the heart to the
lungs; the blood is under
high pressure
Veins: carry blood from an organ
towards the heart e.g. Rest of the
body to the heart: vena cava, lungs
to heart: pulmonary, kidney to
heart: renal, liver to heart: hepatic
Veins have thin walls in
comparison and a wider passage,
thus the blood they carry has a
lower pressure. They always carry
deoxygenated blood with the
exception of the pulmonary vein
that carries blood from the lungs
to the heart. Veins also have valves
to prevent back flow of blood. The
valves look like an arrowhead
which point in the direction of
bloodflow
Capillaries: have narrow thin walls (as
opposed to veins which have wide thin
walls giving it a large lumen) and low
blood pressure. Gas exchange happens
here -- oxygen passes through the
walls to the muscle/tissue, and CO2
passes from the tissues to the blood
Blood
Plasma: liquid
which makes up
most of the
volume of blood;
helps transport
carbon dioxide,
digested food,
waste materials
Platelets: help in blood clotting
White blood cells: ingest pathogens
(disease causing microorganisms) and
produce antibodies (which attach
themselves to foreign particles or
microorganisms destroying
them/rendering them immobile or unable
to penetrate cell walls, thus preventing us
from contracting diseases)
Red blood cells:
helps transport
oxygen
Heart
Left Side: blood enters the left
atrium through the pulmonary vein,
and extis the left ventricle through
the aorta; has thicker walls because
it needs to put the blood under
higher pressure for it to be pumped
through the entire body
Right Side: blood enters the right
atrium through the pulmonary
artery, and exits the right ventricle
through the vena cava. Both sides
have valves to prevent the back flow
of blood
During exercise...the
muscles need more
energy, so they respire
more, requiring more
glucose and oxygen, and
producing more carbon
dioxide and other waste
materials, so the heart
has to contract faster to
meet these demands,
increasing heart rate
Fatty plaque may
build up in the
coronary arteries'
walls, narrowing
the lumen and
cutting off the
blood supply to
the heart muscles,
which might lead
to a heart attack