Matter is all around us, from solid objects to invisible gases. This lesson introduces the common states of matter and explains how mass differs from weight. It also explores the principle that matter is conserved during physical and chemical changes.
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. Solids and liquids visibly take up space, while gases do too: a balloon expands when filled because the gas inside occupies volume.
All flashcards
How is matter defined?
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass.
What is plasma?
A gas-like state of matter containing appreciable numbers of electrically charged particles.
How do mass and weight differ?
Mass measures the amount of matter in an object; weight is the gravitational force acting on it.
How does a pure substance differ from a mixture?
A pure substance has constant composition; a mixture contains multiple types of matter in proportions that can vary.
What is a molecule?
Two or more atoms joined by chemical bonds and moving together as a unit.
Quiz questions
What distinguishes an element from other kinds of substances?Answer: It is a pure substance that chemical changes cannot break down into simpler substances.
What is a molecule?Answer: Two or more atoms joined by chemical bonds.
What products form when water is decomposed by a chemical change?Answer: Hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.
What forms when sodium and chlorine chemically combine?Answer: Sodium chloride, a white crystalline solid with its own properties.
How can the components of a mixture generally be separated?Answer: By physical changes, such as evaporation.
Based on Chemistry 2e by Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, William R. Robinson, PhD (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.