(SME) What are Compounds? Lesson

What are Compounds? 

A compound is made up of two or more elements that are chemically combined. A compound either occurs naturally like water and carbon dioxide, or they are developed by chemists for us to use everyday. A compound can be as simple as two atoms or they can contain hundreds of atoms and form complex structures. We continue to see new compounds being developed as technology improves, and a lot of these are used to create new sports equipment. Some of the these new compounds are used to make improvements to helmets, pads, bats and many other sporting goods that can change the game forever. These new compounds also improve safety and prevent many injuries that used to occur more frequently in the past. When we look at compounds it is important to look at the phase that exists under the conditions in which it is used. On Earth compounds exist as a solid, a liquid or a gas and depending on the application, each phase of matter are used in sports equipment.

Solids

Solids are the densest of all forms of matter; many elements are found as solids in nature and we use them to create many of the compounds used in sporting events. There are many materials that can be created from the combination of elements that have specific characteristics that make them useful for athletes. Many rubberized materials are used where surfaces contact one another to provide friction for specific movements. The soles of shoes are made from hard rubber to provide friction, balls are made from rubberized materials to provide bounce and pads are made to absorb forces to protect athletes. All of these solids are compounds that have been created for a specific purpose.  

Liquids

Many liquids are used in sporting events, from the water and sports drinks athletes consume to the sprinklers that keep the field in top shape for competition. Some liquids are viscous, which means they do not flow very quickly, while others are less viscous and flow very easily. This gives liquids special properties that allow each to be used in various ways. If a player is injured, they may rub a viscous liquid on the painful part of the body to alleviate pain or they may soak in a hot tub full of hot water to aid the healing process. Many times a liquid coolant is sprayed on a sprain in order to reduce swelling, while other liquids are used as adhesives for bandages and spray paint for the lines on the field. As you can see liquids are used extensively in athletics, and without them sports would not be the same.

Gases

When analyzing sporting events we usually think of solids and liquids as the major type of compounds that are used by athletes, but gases also play a major role in any event. If we look closer we start to see how much of a role they actually play in sporting events. From the air in a ball to air filled protective equipment, gases are very important to athletes when they are involved in sports. The altitude at which athletes are accustomed determines how much oxygen the athlete needs in order to perform. It can literally change the outcome of a game. Many Olympic athletes train at high altitudes in order to increase their endurance. At high elevation oxygen levels are low and the body adapts to the low levels over time. When the athletes compete at lower altitudes it gives them an extra advantage by allowing their blood to carry more oxygen, which gives them more endurance.   

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