Year 8 Self Assessment Checklist
Topic Checklist – Lab Safety, Elements and Compounds
To succeed in this topic you should:
*Revision from Year 7.
Know the hazard symbols used by chemists and their meanings.*
Know the difference between hazard and risk and understand the idea of taking precautions to minimise the
risk of harm when using hazardous substances.
Understand that all substances (ie matter) are made up of particles and recall the arrangement of these particles in solids, liquids
and gases.*
Understand that the simplest type of particle is an atom and that elements contain only one type of atom.*
Know that atoms are composed of three types of smaller (sub-atomic) particles: protons, neutrons and electrons and know where
in the atom these are found.
Know that all matter is made from the elements and that there are around 100 elements in the universe; it follows then that there are
around 100 different types of atom in the universe.
Appreciate that the elements are arranged into Groups and Periods in the Periodic Table according to their chemical properties
and that each element is represented by its own chemical symbol.
Know that the elements are divided into metals and non-metals and know the different properties of these two groups.*
Understand that when atoms of different elements combine in a chemical reaction, a new substance called a compound is formed;
recall the definition: a compound is two or more elements chemically bonded together.
Understand that when a chemical reaction occurs a new substance is always made which has different properties to the elements
it is made from.
Know the different observations that give evidence that a chemical reaction has taken place (e.g. colour change, mass change,
temperature change or the formation of a precipitate).
Be able to write word equations for chemical reactions and know the meaning of the terms products and reactants.
Remember the rules for naming compounds and be able to name compounds containing two elements and compounds containing
three elements, when one of the three elements is oxygen.
Identify from particle diagrams pure elements and pure compounds.
Know that compounds can be broken down into their elements again by electrolysis.
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Topic Checklist – Mixtures and Separation Techniques
To succeed in this topic you should:
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Understand that pure substances contain either one element or one compound and that these will have
a specific melting and boiling point.
Understand that impure substances are called mixtures, which contain two or more substances
(elements and/or compounds!) NOT chemically bonded together.
Be able to identify from particle diagrams pure elements, pure compounds or mixtures.
Know that mixtures melt and boil over temperature ranges; they do not have a specific melting or boiling
point unlike pure substances (eg crude oil and air).
Know that the individual components of a mixture retain their individual physical and chemical properties
and the can be easily separated from one another.
Define the terms solute*, solution*, solvent*, suspension, miscible and immiscible.
Recall that simple distillation can be used to separate a solute from a solution and be able to draw a
labeled diagram of a simple distillation set up.
Be able to define the terms distillate and recall that distillation is evaporation followed by
condensation.
Recall that fractional distillation can be used to separate mixtures of liquids with different boiling points.
Be able to describe the method for crystallisation of a salt from a saturated salt solution.
Know that a separating funnel can be used to separate immiscible liquids e.g. oil and water, and be able
to draw a labeled diagram of a separating funnel.
Be able to describe how to use filtration to separate an insoluble solid (suspension) from a liquid and define the
terms residue and filtrate.
*Revision from Year 7.
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Topic Checklist – Acids and Alkalis
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To succeed in this topic you should:
Be able to recall the colours produced by litmus and universal indicator in acidic solution and alkaline solution*.
Be able to describe the pH scale, running from 0-14, as a scale of acidity and alkalinity*.
Be able to describe solutions which have a pH value less than 7 as acidic, those with a pH value of more than 7
as alkaline and those with a pH of 7 as neutral*.
Know the formulae of hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) and that acidity is
caused by the H+(aq) particle from the acid.
Know that an alkali is a substance that forms hydroxide particles (OH-(aq)) in solution (eg sodium hydroxide); it is
the OH-(aq) particle that causes the alkalinity.
Understand that a reaction between an acid and an alkali is a neutralisation reaction where the H+(aq) from the
acid reacts with the OH-(aq) from the alkali to form neutral water (H2O).
Know the general equation:
ACID + ALKALI SALT + WATER
Be able to predict and name the salts that will be formed from the neutralisation of the hydrochloric acid (HCl),
sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3).
Be able to write word equations, including the state symbols (s), (l), (g) and (aq), for the reactions between the
three acids and the alkalis ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
*revision from Year 7
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Topic Checklist – Limestone and the Carbonates
To succeed in this topic you should:
Be able to classify a reaction as either a chemical change or physical change and recall the properties characteristics
of chemical and physical changes.
Know the difference between the physical properties of a substance and the chemical properties of a substance.
Be able to define the term thermal decomposition as the breaking down of a substance using heat.
Know that some carbonates decompose on heating, but others will not.
Know that calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (the main constituent of limestone) decomposes on heating to form calcium
oxide (lime) and carbon dioxide.
Understand that a mass loss is recorded when CaCO3 decomposes and that this is due to CO2 gas being produced
and lost from the test tube.
Know that the test for CO2 is to bubble the gas through limewater and if the limewater goes cloudy, the gas is CO2.
Know that limewater is calcium hydroxide solution, Ca(OH)2, and that the white precipitate formed when CO2 is
bubbled through it is insoluble calcium carbonate.
Know the reactions and the products of the limestone cycle.
Know that calcium carbonate is quarried as limestone and used as a building material; it can also be powered and
used to increase the pH of acidic soils.
Appreciate the importance of limestone in the construction industry because calcium carbonate (from limestone) is
used in the manufacture of lime, cement and glass and it is also important in the extraction of iron.
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Topic Checklist – Oxidation Reactions
To succeed in this topic you should:
Know that the air around us is about 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen.
Be able to define the term oxidation as the addition of oxygen to a substance.
Know the test for oxygen: a glowing splint re-lights when put into the gas.
Know that when an element is burned in air or pure oxygen (oxidation) a single oxide is formed and be able to write word
equations, including state symbols, for the reaction. (Burning of substances in oxygen is also known as combustion).
Understand that when an element is burned in oxygen an increase is mass occurs because oxygen atoms have been added
and are now bonded to the atoms of the element.
Know that when a metal element is oxidised the metal oxide formed will be a base, and if soluble in water will form an
alkaline solution.
Be able to define a base as any substance that will neutralise an acid.
Know that when a non-metal element is oxidised the non-metal oxide formed will be acidic in solution.
Know that haemoglobin contains iron which is reversibly oxidised when blood picks up oxygen in the lungs.
Understand that when a compound is oxidised, oxygen is added to each element in the compound to form two (or more)
oxides.
Understand that most fuels are compounds containing carbon and hydrogen and that when these are combusted they form
CO2 and H2O.
Know the general equation: HYDROCARBON + OXYGEN WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE
Understand that burning fossil fuels leads to pollution of the atmosphere by oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.
Know that in living organisms, respiration is the oxidation of glucose and that the word equation for this reaction is:
GLUCOSE + OXYGEN WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE
Recall the test for water: blue cobalt chloride paper turns pink in the presence of water.
Understand that rusting is the oxidation of iron to form iron(III) oxide (rust) and that rusting only happens in the presence of
both oxygen and water and be able to suggest suitable methods of rust prevention, including barrier methods and
sacrificial protection.
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