9-12

E6: Compare the physical and chemical characteristics of elements.

Curriculum Organizing Questions	What is the difference between a physical and chemical property? What is an element? Compare these elements' (specify) according to their properties.
Elaboration	Laboratory investigations of the properties of substances and their changes through a range of chemical interactions provide a basis for understanding a variety of reaction types and thier applications. NSES p. 178
Specific Ideas
Developmental & Instructional Implications	In general, pupils find difficulty in developing an adequete conception of the chemical combination of elements until they can interpret combination at the particle level. However, a particulate view does not ensure an understanding of chemical combination. Driver p. 97 Many students do not view chemical changes as interactions. They do not understand that substances can be formed by the recombination of atoms in the original substances. Rather, they see chemical change as the result of a separate change in the original substance, or changes, each one separate, in several original substances. For example, some students see the smoke formed when wood burns as having been driven out of the wood by the flame (Andersson, 1990). Atlas p. 60
Examples

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