Classification of Matter - Questions

The Classification of Matter Concept Builder is comprised of 25 questions. The questions are divided into 11 different Question Groups and spread across four independent activities. Questions in the same group are rather similar to one another. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.

There are four activities in the Concept Builder. Those four activities are differentiated as follows:
 

• Class Matters: Question Group 1 ... Identify the definitions or distinguishing characeristics of an element, a compound, a homogeneous mixture, and a heterogeneous mixture.
• Photo ID: Question Groups 2-5 ... Based on a photo of a sample of matter, classify the sample as a pure substance, a homogeneous mixture, or a heterogeneous mixture.
• Formula for Class: Question Groups 6-7 ... Given a formula for a sample of matter, identify the sample as either a pure element, a pure compound, a homogeneous mixture, or a heterogeneous mixture.
• Particle Diagram: Question Groups 8-11 ... Given a particle diagram of a sample of matter, identify the best description of the sample using terms such as element, compound, pure substance, and mixture.

The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions in order to judge which activities make the best fit with their curriculum.

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Classification of Matter

  
Activity 1:  Matching Pairs - Class Matters
Question Group 1
Question 1
Each descriptive phrase can be matched to a class of matter. Find the matching pairs.
 

Two or more different types of particles that are unevenly distributed.
Element
Compound
Two or more different types of particles that are physically and evenly distributed.
A pure susbtance composed of two or more types of atoms that are chemically bound.
Homogeneous Mixture
Heterogeneous Mixture
 A pure substance composed of a single type of atom.

 
 
 
 
 

 
Activity 2:  Photo ID
Question Group 2
Question 2
Consider a coffee (with Sweetener) and a chocolate chip cookie. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify each according to its class.
 

 

Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 



Question 3
Consider chili and apple juice. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify each according to its class.

 

 
Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 



Question Group 3
Question 4
Consider mouthwash and pepperoni pizza. Consider what each must be composed of. Then identify each according to its class.
 

 

 
Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 


 
 
 
 

Question 5
Consider cologne and muddy water. Consider what each must be composed of. Then identify each according to its class.
 

 

 
Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 

 


Question Group 3
Question 6
Consider water with food colorant and Italian salad dressing. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify each according to its class.
 

 

 
Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 

 

Question 7
Consider Saline Solution and gravel and water. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify each according to its class.
 

 

 
 Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 


 

Question Group 5
Question 8
Consider a density column and a brass candlestick. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify each according to its class.
 

 

 
 Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 

 

Question 9
Consider the bottle of distilled water and a sample of granite rock. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify each according to its class.

 

 Pure substance
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
 


 
Activity 3:  Matching Pairs - Formula for Class
Question Group 6
Question 10
Each formula listed below can be matched to a class of matter. Find the matching pairs.
 
Mixture of Two Compounds
Pure Substance of an Element
O₃  +  H₂O
CO₂ +  NaF
Pure Substance of a Compound
CO₂
Mixture of An Element and a Compound
Cu
 
 
 
Question 11
Each formula listed below can be matched to a class of matter. Find the matching pairs.
 
Pure Substance of an Element
O₂  +  NO₂
Pure Substance of a Compound
N₂
Mixture of Two Compounds
NO  +  H₂O₂
NaCl
Mixture of An Element and a Compound

 
 
Question Group 7
Question 12
Each formula listed below can be matched to a class of matter. Find the matching pairs.
 
HI  +  CO
Pure Substance of an Element
Cl₂  +  Br₂
HClMixture of Two Compounds
O₂
Mixture of Two Elements
Pure Substance of a Compound



Question 13
Each formula listed below can be matched to a class of matter. Find the matching pairs.
 
HF  +  NO
N₂
Pure Substance of a Compound
Pure Substance of an Element
Mixture of Two Compounds
N₂+  Br₂
Mixture of Two Elements
KCl
 
 

 
Activity 4:  Particle Diagrams
Question Group 8
Question 14
Consider the Particle Diagrams of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 
 

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound

 
Question 15
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

 

Question 16
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

 

Question Group 9
Question 17
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

Question 18
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

 

Question 19
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

Choose One: Pure substance of 2 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 compounds. Mixture of an element and a compound.

 


 

Question Group 10
Question 20
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 1 compound. Pure substance of 4 compounds. Pure substance of 4 elements. Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 compounds.

Choose One: Pure substance of 1 compound. Pure substance of 4 compounds. Pure substance of 4 elements. Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 compounds.

 
 
 

Question 21
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 1 compound. Pure substance of 4 compounds. Pure substance of 4 elements. Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 compounds.

Choose One: Pure substance of 1 compound. Pure substance of 4 compounds. Pure substance of 4 elements. Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 compounds.

 

Question 22
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

 

Choose One: Pure substance of 1 compound. Pure substance of 5 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 1 compound and 1 element.

Choose One: Pure substance of 1 compound. Pure substance of 5 compounds. Pure substance of 2 elements. Mixture of 2 elements. Mixture of 1 compound and 1 element.

 

Question Group 11
Question 23
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 
 

Choose One: Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 elements. Mixture of 2 elements and 1 compound. Mixture of 1 element and 2 compounds. Mixture of 3 compounds.

Choose One: Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 elements. Mixture of 2 elements and 1 compound. Mixture of 1 element and 2 compounds. Mixture of 3 compounds.

 
 

Question 24
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 

Choose One: Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 elements. Mixture of 2 elements and 1 compound. Mixture of 1 element and 2 compounds. Mixture of 3 compounds.

Choose One: Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 elements. Mixture of 2 elements and 1 compound. Mixture of 1 element and 2 compounds. Mixture of 3 compounds.

 
 
 

Question 25
Consider the Particle Views of two samples of matter. Consider what each is composed of. Then identify the best description of each sample of matter.
 

 
 

Choose One: Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 elements. Mixture of 2 elements and 1 compound. Mixture of 1 element and 2 compounds. Mixture of 3 compounds.

Choose One: Mixture of 3 elements. Mixture of 4 elements. Mixture of 2 elements and 1 compound. Mixture of 1 element and 2 compounds. Mixture of 3 compounds.