Chemistry Basics Word Search: Atom, Ion, Bond and Mole

Eight words every chemistry student meets first. An atom is the smallest piece of an element; an ion is an atom with a charge; a bond holds atoms together. Acids and bases sit on either side of the pH scale, mass measures how much matter there is, and a gas is one of the states of matter.

The word atom comes from the Greek atomos, "uncuttable", the name the philosopher Democritus gave to the smallest possible particle.

Chemistry Basics Vocabulary: 8 Words to Find

Words run across, up and down; 5 of the 8 read backwards. The longest words have 4 letters.

Acid: A substance that releases hydrogen ions in water, with a pH below 7, like lemon juice or vinegar.
Atom: The smallest unit of an element, made of protons, neutrons and electrons.
Base: A substance with a pH above 7 that neutralizes acids, like baking soda or soap.
Bond: The force that holds atoms together in a molecule.
Gas: A state of matter with no fixed shape or volume.
Ion: An atom or molecule with an electric charge because it has gained or lost electrons.
Mass: The amount of matter in an object, measured in grams or kilograms.
Mole: The chemist's counting unit: 6.022 × 10²³ particles.

How to Solve the Chemistry Basics Word Search

All eight words are short, four letters or fewer. "Base", "Mass" and "Mole", with the only L, run upward. "Bond" and "Gas", with the only G, read backwards. "Acid", with the only C, and "Atom" read across. "Ion" is the only word running down.

Chemistry Basics Classroom Activities

Test household liquids with red cabbage juice to sort acids and bases.
Draw an atom with its protons, neutrons and electrons.
Explain the difference between an atom and an ion.