Matter and Energy

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Matter and energy. The student distinguishes between elements and compounds, classifies changes in matter, and understands the properties of solutions.
Glossary terms and definitions are consistent across kindergarten through high school in the TEKS Guide. The definitions are intended to give educators a common understanding of the terms regardless of what grade level they teach. Glossary definitions are not intended for use with students.

the smallest particle of matter that has distinct physical and chemical properties; consists of a nucleus which contains protons and neutrons and an electron cloud which contains electrons

the unique combination of chemical symbols and subscripts that describe which and how many of each element are bonded together in a compound

a pure substance that is made up of two or more different elements in a specific ratio

a pure substance that is made up of one type of atom 

substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed of microscopic particles

an organizational chart of all the known elements on Earth, organized based on the physical and chemical properties of each

a substance in which a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance is evenly distributed (or dissolved) within a liquid or sometimes a gas or solid

Research

Brown, Tom; Rushton, Greg; Bencomo, and Marie“Mighty Molecule Models.” Science and Children 45, no. 5 (2008): 33–37. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43174819

Summary: "Mighty Molecule Models" explains a hands-on investigation into building compound molecules. Students begin by modeling atoms of elements and exploring the idea of elements bonding to form new molecules and compounds.  Students propose chemical formulas based on the models constructed.  This article supports learning at this grade level and teacher conceptual development beyond this grade level.