Chemistry Overview and States of Matter

Chemistry Overview

• Chemistry investigates matter and its transformations.
• Comprised of five major branches:
  • Organic: Carbon-containing compounds.
  • Inorganic: Compounds not primarily based on carbon.
  • Analytical: Measurement of material properties.
  • Physical: Intersection of physics and chemical principles.
  • Biochemistry: Chemical processes within living organisms.

Understanding Matter

• Matter is defined as anything with mass and volume.
• Composed of atoms; examples include protons, currency, and flowers.
• Non-examples include intangible entities like light and heat.

States of Matter

• Solid:
  • Particles arranged in a fixed, orderly pattern; closely packed.
  • High density, incompressible, fixed shape, and incapable of flowing.
• Liquid:
  • Particles closely packed but with a random arrangement; can move past one another.
  • Shape can change, volume remains constant, and can flow easily despite being incompressible.
• Gas:
  • Particles are widely spaced and move freely in various directions.
  • Low density, easily compressible, and expand to fill the entire container.

Classification of Matter

• Divided into:
  • Pure Substances: Elements or compounds.
  • Mixtures: Homogeneous (uniform composition) or heterogeneous (distinct, separate components).

Changes of State

• Transitions between states of matter include:
  • Melting: Solid to Liquid.
  • Freezing: Liquid to Solid.
  • Evaporation/Boiling: Liquid to Gas.
  • Condensation: Gas to Liquid.
  • Sublimation: Solid to Gas.
  • Deposition: Gas to Solid.

Separation Techniques

• Filtration: Separating solid from liquid using a filter.
• Crystallization: Formation of pure solid particles from a solution.
• Simple Distillation: Separation based on boiling points by heating a mixture.