Purnima Lallan Sharma Foundation · Est. 2021
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Chemistry: from particles to reactions

Explain the materials around you, separate mixtures and understand how atoms are conserved in reactions.

4 lessons · Learn at your own pace

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Blue copper(II) sulfate crystals in a clear round container.
Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate crystals. · Crystal Titan · CC BY-SA 4.0

Learn, practise, explain

Try the exercise before reading its explanation. Answer the self-check questions in your own words, then compare your reasoning with the answers. Revisit any difficult section before moving on. No account or payment is needed.

  1. 01

    Matter, particles and changing states

    A puddle shrinks, a cold bottle becomes wet, and a balloon keeps its shape. One particle model connects these everyday observations while also explaining what the model cannot show.

    Learning outcome: Explain solids, liquids, gases, diffusion and changes of state, then use a mass balance and a temperature record to test a particle explanation.

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  2. 02

    Atoms, elements and compounds: reading the chemical alphabet

    A formula is a compact statement about composition. Learn to read its symbols before calculating, and distinguish the number of particles from the mass of a substance.

    Learning outcome: Classify particle models, interpret subscripts and coefficients, and calculate atom counts and approximate molecular masses with meaningful units.

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  3. 03

    Mixtures, solutions and choosing a separation method

    Clear water can still contain dissolved substances. Learn to ask what differs between components before deciding whether settling, filtering, crystallising or distilling could separate them.

    Learning outcome: Distinguish solutions, suspensions and colloids, calculate mass percentage, and justify a sequence of separation steps without confusing clarity with purity.

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  4. 04

    Chemical reactions: new substances, conserved atoms

    Rusting and melting both change what we see, but only one forms new substances. Learn to use chemical identity, atom counts and a clear system boundary to explain the difference.

    Learning outcome: Interpret reaction evidence, balance simple equations without changing formulas, and explain apparent mass gains or losses by tracing matter across a boundary.

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