Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 8 Science Guides

Year 8 - Science

A particle model of chemical reactions

Atoms, elements and compounds

Unit Summary

This unit explores the basic atomic model, the differences between atoms, elements, and compounds, and the varying physical and chemical properties of elements. It covers chemical symbols, formulae, SI units, and IUPAC nomenclature, emphasising their use in describing elements and compounds.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to draw particles diagrams of reactants and products to show how they are rearranged by a chemical reaction.

Key Notes

  • Reactants are the chemicals that react in a chemical reaction.
  • Products are the chemicals that are formed in a chemical reaction.
  • The products and reactants in a chemical reaction contain exactly the same atoms.
  • The atoms in the products of a chemical reaction are bonded differently to the same atoms in the reactants.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • reactants: Reactants are the elements or compounds before a reaction takes place. Reactants are found on the left-hand side of a chemical equation.
  • products: Products are the elements or compounds that are formed after a reaction has taken place. Products are found on the right-hand side of a chemical equation.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The idea that atoms can be created or destroyed when new products are formed.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Reactants are the chemicals that react in a chemical reaction. Products are the chemicals that are formed in a chemical reaction.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'reactants'

Reactants are the elements or compounds before a reaction takes place. Reactants are found on the left-hand side of a chemical equation. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: The idea that atoms can be created or destroyed when new products are formed. Correction: Matter cannot be created or destroyed, only arranged differently to be formed into new products.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 Science guide library.