Chemistry
Name:____________________________________________ Per:___
ACT: Classifying Matter with Legos
Due Date:___________________________
In this activity you will be making mixtures, compounds and elements.
Sort all the Legos by color. (White is the same as grey) These are ELEMENTS!
1. What do the different colors represent?
When we stick the Legos together, we’re making a BOND between the atoms of different elements.
Example: If I stick a green Lego on a purple Lego, I would be making Green Purple, and I could name
that: GP
If I were to stick TWO green Legos on a purple Lego, I would be making Green-Green-Purple,
and I could name that:
G2P.
2. Using the Legos, make three different compounds, and write their names.
Legos Involved
Example: Green – Green – Purple
Name of compound
G2P
3. Describe what makes these compounds rather than elements or a mixture?
Take the three compounds you just made and place them in the baggie.
4. What type of matter (element, compound, mixture) is in the baggie? Explain your answer.
Remove all the compounds in the baggie, and make 3 identical compounds and place them in the
baggie. (for example: P-G, P-G, P-G)
5. What is the “name” of this compound?
6. What type of matter (element, compound, mixture) is in the baggie?
Classifying Matter: Elements, Mixtures and Compounds
Make a “baggie model” for a pure element (we could pretend it is Magnesium or Carbon).
7. Show your teacher. She/He will tell you if your model is correct.
Make two molecules of H2O.
8. What color did you use to represent the Hydrogen (H)?
9. What color did you use to represent the Oxygen (O)?
10. What makes your model of water a compound rather than a mixture of two elements?
Put your water molecules in the baggie with another un-bonded element.
11. Show your teacher. She/He will tell you if your model is correct.
12. What type of matter do you have in the baggie?
Rust on a car or is Fe2O3. It’s called Iron Oxide. Make a model of iron oxide.
13. What color did you use to represent the Iron (Fe)?
14. What color did you use to represent the Oxygen (O)?
15. How is this iron oxide different from a mixture of iron and oxygen?
Make your own molecule using as many of the Legos as you want.
16. Draw a picture of your molecule.
17. Write your molecule’s name (such as G4P3)
Disassemble all the Legos and place them back in the baggie.
18. What type of mixture (homogeneous or heterogeneous) do you have? Explain why you
believe it’s that type of mixture.
Seal the baggie and hand in your Legos to the teacher!
Classifying Matter: Elements, Mixtures and Compounds