TOPIC 30 OF 50

Elements Compounds Mixtures — Exercises

🎓 Class 8 Science CBSE Theory Ch 8 — Reproduction in Animals ⏱ ~21 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]

This MCQ module is based on: Elements Compounds Mixtures — Exercises

[myaischool_lt_science_assessment grade_level="class_8" science_domain="biology" difficulty="basic"]

Chapter Summary

In Chapter 8 we learnt how chemists re-classify matter based on its composition, rather than its state.

Pure vs Impure

Pure substances have one kind of particle; mixtures contain two or more substances blended physically.

Elements

118 are known, 94 natural. Made of one kind of atom. Classified as metals, non-metals, metalloids.

Symbols

One- or two-letter abbreviations, often from Latin names (Na, Fe, Au, Pb).

Compounds

Two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio. Properties differ from constituent elements.

Formulas & Subscripts

H2O means 2 H + 1 O. Subscripts count atoms, not molecules.

Mixtures

Homogeneous (uniform) or heterogeneous (non-uniform); separable by physical methods.

Reactions

Combination (elements → compound) and decomposition (compound → simpler).

Separation Methods

Filtration, evaporation, distillation, decantation, sieving, magnetic, chromatography, centrifugation.

Key Terms

Matter
Pure substance
Mixture
Element
Compound
Atom
Molecule
Symbol
Formula
Subscript
Metal
Non-metal
Metalloid
Homogeneous
Heterogeneous
Combination
Decomposition
Filtration
Distillation
Evaporation
Chromatography
Centrifugation

NCERT Exercises — Solved

Q1.Differentiate between an element and a compound.

ElementCompound
Made of only one kind of atoms.Made of two or more different elements.
Cannot be broken into simpler substances by chemistry.Can be broken into elements by chemical methods (heating, electrolysis).
Examples: O2, Fe, Au, C.Examples: H2O, CO2, NaCl.
Shown by symbols.Shown by formulas with subscripts.

Q2.Give examples of five elements, five compounds and five mixtures.

Elements: hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), iron (Fe), gold (Au), carbon (C).
Compounds: water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), common salt (NaCl), glucose (C6H12O6), methane (CH4).
Mixtures: air, seawater, milk, brass, soil.

Q3.What is the difference between pure substances and impure substances?

Pure substance: Contains only one type of particle throughout. It has a fixed composition and definite properties (e.g., fixed melting/boiling point). Examples: distilled water, pure gold, oxygen gas.
Impure substance (mixture): Contains more than one substance in variable proportions. Each component keeps its own properties and can be separated by physical methods. Examples: muddy water, air, milk.

Q4.Match the following symbols with the correct element names.

SymbolName (mix)
FeCopper
AuIron
NaPotassium
CuSodium
KSilver
AgGold
PbMercury
HgLead
Correct matches:
Fe → Iron (ferrum) · Au → Gold (aurum) · Na → Sodium (natrium) · Cu → Copper (cuprum) · K → Potassium (kalium) · Ag → Silver (argentum) · Pb → Lead (plumbum) · Hg → Mercury (hydrargyrum).

Q5.Write the chemical formulas for: water, carbon dioxide, common salt, sugar (sucrose), methane.

Water: H2O · Carbon dioxide: CO2 · Common salt: NaCl · Sugar (sucrose): C12H22O11 · Methane: CH4.

Q6.Classify each of the following as element, compound, or mixture:
carbon dioxide, sand, seawater, magnesium oxide, muddy water, aluminium, gold, oxygen, rust, iron sulfide, glucose, air, water, fruit juice, nitrogen, sodium chloride, sulfur, hydrogen, baking soda.

SubstanceClassification
Carbon dioxide (CO2)Compound
SandMixture (mostly SiO2 with impurities)
SeawaterMixture (homogeneous solution)
Magnesium oxide (MgO)Compound
Muddy waterMixture (heterogeneous)
Aluminium (Al)Element
Gold (Au)Element
Oxygen (O2)Element
Rust (Fe2O3·xH2O)Compound
Iron sulfide (FeS)Compound
Glucose (C6H12O6)Compound
AirMixture (homogeneous)
Water (H2O)Compound
Fruit juiceMixture (heterogeneous)
Nitrogen (N2)Element
Sodium chloride (NaCl)Compound
Sulfur (S)Element
Hydrogen (H2)Element
Baking soda (NaHCO3)Compound

Q7.What new substance is formed when a mixture of iron filings and sulfur powder is heated? How is it different from the original mixture? Write the word equation.

On strong heating, iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) chemically combine to form a new compound called iron sulfide (FeS).
Word equation: Iron + Sulfur → Iron sulfide.
Symbolically: Fe + S → FeS.

How it differs from the original mixture:
  • In the original mixture, a magnet could still pull out the iron and the two substances kept their own properties.
  • In the new compound FeS, the iron has lost its magnetism — a magnet no longer removes it.
  • The mixture showed yellow sulfur grains and grey iron; FeS is a uniform black solid.
  • The compound has a fixed composition (by mass); the original mixture could be made in any ratio.

Q8.Is it possible for a substance to be classified as both an element and a compound? Explain why or why not.

No, a substance cannot be both at the same time. The two definitions are mutually exclusive:
  • An element is made of a single kind of atom only.
  • A compound is made of atoms of two or more different elements bonded chemically.
If a substance has only one kind of atom, it is an element (e.g., O2, even though it contains 2 atoms, they are both oxygen). The moment a second kind of atom enters chemically, it becomes a compound (e.g., CO2). Therefore, the same pure substance cannot belong to both categories — its atomic composition decides which one it is.

Q9.How would our daily lives be changed if water were not a compound but merely a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen?

Life as we know it would be impossible. If water were just a mixture:
  • It would not be a liquid at room temperature. H2 and O2 are both gases that boil far below 0 °C. So "water" would be a gas — no rivers, no lakes, no oceans.
  • It would not put out fires. Hydrogen burns and oxygen supports burning. A spark would cause it to explode rather than extinguish flames.
  • Proportions would vary. Drinking water from different sources would have different H : O ratios, making it unreliable.
  • Living cells could not form. Cells rely on H2O's unique bonded structure to dissolve nutrients and carry signals.
  • Weather, rain and climate would not exist, because there would be no liquid water to evaporate and condense.
The chemical bonding in H2O gives water totally new, life-friendly properties (liquid state, surface tension, high heat capacity) that neither hydrogen nor oxygen gases possess.

Q10.Analyse Fig. 8.24 (an experiment where a metal ribbon is burnt in air producing a white powder and a gas is evolved when the powder is added to dilute acid). Identify Gas A and write the word equation of the chemical reaction shown.

The burning of the metal ribbon (magnesium) in air produces magnesium oxide:
Word equation 1: Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide.
2 Mg + O2 → 2 MgO.

When magnesium oxide is added to dilute hydrochloric acid, it reacts to give magnesium chloride and water. If, instead, the unburnt magnesium ribbon is added to dilute acid, the gas evolved is hydrogen (H2).
Word equation 2 (metal + acid): Magnesium + Hydrochloric acid → Magnesium chloride + Hydrogen.
Mg + 2 HCl → MgCl2 + H2↑.
Hence Gas A is hydrogen (H2). It can be confirmed by a lighted splinter — hydrogen burns with a "pop" sound.

Q11.Write the names of any two compounds made only from non-metals, and mention two uses of each.

1. Water (H2O) — made of H and O (both non-metals).
  • Drinking and cooking — the universal solvent for our bodies.
  • Generation of hydroelectric power and irrigation for agriculture.
2. Carbon dioxide (CO2) — made of C and O (both non-metals).
  • Used by green plants for photosynthesis to make food.
  • Used in fire extinguishers and to make fizzy soft drinks.
(Other valid examples: ammonia NH3 — fertilisers, cleaners; methane CH4 — cooking gas, fuel.)

Q12.How can gold be classified as both a mineral and a metal?

The words "mineral" and "metal" answer two different questions.
  • Mineral is a geological term: a naturally occurring solid substance, usually found in rocks or ores. Gold occurs naturally as nuggets and flakes inside rocks in the Earth's crust — so it is a mineral.
  • Metal is a chemical term: an element that is lustrous, malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity. Gold shows all these properties — so it is a metal (in fact, one of the most unreactive metals).
So "mineral" describes where and how we find gold in nature; "metal" describes the kind of element it is chemically. Both labels can apply to the same substance at the same time, because they describe different aspects. Many, but not all, minerals are metals (e.g., sulphur is a non-metallic mineral).
AI Tutor
Science Class 8 — Curiosity
Ready
Hi! 👋 I'm Gaura, your AI Tutor for Elements Compounds Mixtures — Exercises. Take your time studying the lesson — whenever you have a doubt, just ask me! I'm here to help.