Using Marshmallows to Explain Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures
Name____________________
Directions: Look at your place mat of substances. Draw and label what you see in each area in the order
you built them. You must use colored pencils to color the marshmallows the correct color below!
#
Substances
Draw, label & Color
1.
1. O
2. --(Element)
2
2.
H
--(Element)
2
3.
C
--(Element)
4.
Salt (NaCl)
--(Compound)
5.
Water (H O)
--(Compound)
2
6.
Salt Water (H O + NaCl)
--(Mixture)
2
7.
Dissolved Oxygen (H O + O )
--(Mixture)
2
2
Use the molecules you made to answer these Analysis Questions:
List what the
areas have in
common?
1) Look at the three areas
labeled Elements, answer
these questions
Define the term
from your
reasoning to the
left
What else can you make?
An Element is...
What other elements can
you make with your
marshmallows?
A Compound is...
What other compounds can
you make with your
marshmallows?
-----------> ----------->
2) Look at the two areas
labeled Compounds,
answer these questions
-----------> ----------->
3) Look at the two areas
labeled Mixtures, answer
these questions
-----------> ----------->
Are these compounds
found in nature?
A Mixture is...
What other mixtures can
you make with your
marshmallows?
Are these mixtures found in
nature?
4) In your own words, what is the difference between elements, compounds, and mixtures?
5) Explain the analogy: “An element is to a compound as a letter is to a word.”
6) Now, make your OWN analogy:
Elements & compounds are to mixtures as __________________________ and
_______________________ are to________________________________.
Using Marshmallows to Explain Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
****************Desk Copy--Leave in Classroom!!!*****************
Procedures: morning classes
1.
2.
Get a placemat to use as a workspace & wash your hands (if you plan on eating your materials).
Use the following key for building your structures:
Marshmallow Color
Element (Element symbol)
white-16
Hydrogen (H)
yellow-14
Oxygen (O)
orange-2
Carbon (C)
pink-4
Sodium (Na)
green-4
Chlorine (Cl)
Hints:
 Elements are always written with the First letter Capitalized, second letter
lowercase (Na)
 subscripts show how many atoms there are of the element
o C=no subscript= there’s only ONE!!! The one is never written!
o H2O= 2 hydrogen atoms, only 1 oxygen atom
o *** O2=2 Oxygen atoms
***(Some elements need 2 of their own atoms to be stable and occur naturally.
These types of elements are called “diatomic” (di=2, atomic=atoms)
Others include hydrogen (H ), nitrogen (N ), fluorine (F2), Iodine (I2), chlorine (Cl2),
and bromine (Br2)
2
2
3.
Use 8 marshmallows & 4 toothpicks to make 4 molecules of oxygen (O2); put on the
space labeled O2 Element. Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
4.
Use 4 marshmallows & 2 toothpicks to make 2 molecules of hydrogen (H2); put in
space labeled H2 Element. Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
5.
Use marshmallows to make 2 atoms of carbon (C) put on the space labeled C
Element. Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
6.
Use 4 pink & 4 green marshmallows & 4 toothpicks to make 4 molecules of salt
(NaCl) put on the space labeled Salt (NaCl) Compound.
Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
7.
Use 12 yellow, 6 white marshmallows & 12 toothpicks to make 6 molecules of water
(H20) put on the space labeled Water (H20) Compound.
Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
8.
Take 2 of your molecules of NaCl and 2 of your molecules of H20 and place on the
workspace labeled Salt Water (NaCl + H20) Mixture
9.
Take 2 of your molecules of NaCl and 2 of your molecules of H 0 and place on the
workspace labeled Dissolved Oxygen (H20 + O2) Mixture. Draw and color the
structures you made on the chart.
2
10.
Complete the analysis questions.
11.
Get your definitions checked by your teachers for compound, element, mixture to
your vocab sheet in your notebook, include your correct definition AND a picture to
help you remember!
Using Marshmallows to Explain Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
****************Desk Copy--Leave in Classroom!!!*****************
Procedures: afternoon classes
1.
2.
Get a placemat to use as a workspace & wash your hands (if you plan on eating your materials).
Use the following key for building your structures:
Marshmallow Color
Element (Element symbol)
green-16
Hydrogen (H)
orange-14
Oxygen (O)
yellow-2
Carbon (C)
pink-4
Sodium (Na)
white-4
Chlorine (Cl)
Hints:
 Elements are always written with the First letter Capitalized, second letter
lowercase (Na)
 subscripts show how many atoms there are of the element
o C=no subscript= there’s only ONE!!! The one is never written!
o H2O= 2 hydrogen atoms, only 1 oxygen atom
o *** O2=2 Oxygen atoms
***(Some elements need 2 of their own atoms to be stable and occur naturally.
These types of elements are called “diatomic” (di=2, atomic=atoms)
Others include hydrogen (H ), nitrogen (N ), fluorine (F2), Iodine (I2), chlorine (Cl2),
and bromine (Br2)
2
2
3.
Use 8 orange marshmallows & 4 toothpicks to make 4 molecules of oxygen (O2);
put on the space labeled O2 Element. Draw and color the structures you made on
the chart.
4.
Use 4 green marshmallows & 2 toothpicks to make 2 molecules of hydrogen (H2);
put in space labeled H2 Element. Draw and color the structures you made on the
chart.
5.
Use 2 yellow marshmallows to make 2 atoms of carbon (C) put on the space labeled
C Element. Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
6.
Use 4 pink & 4 white marshmallows & 4 toothpicks to make 4 molecules of salt
(NaCl) put on the space labeled Salt (NaCl) Compound.
Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
7.
Use 12 green & 6 orange marshmallows & 12 toothpicks to make 6 molecules of
water (H20) put on the space labeled Water (H20) Compound.
Draw and color the structures you made on the chart.
Remember: Water = H2O which means two hydrogen (green marshmallows)
bonded to 1 oxygen ( orange marshmallows
8.
Take 2 of your molecules of NaCl and 2 of your molecules of H20 and place on the
workspace labeled Salt Water (NaCl + H20) Mixture
9.
Take 2 of your molecules of NaCl and 2 of your molecules of H 0 and place on the
workspace labeled Dissolved Oxygen (H20 + O2) Mixture. Draw and color the
structures you made on the chart.
2
10.
Complete the analysis questions.
11.
Get your definitions checked by your teachers for compound, element, mixture to
your vocab sheet in your notebook, include your correct definition AND a picture to
help you remember!