Introduction to Matter

Introduction to Matter

• Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space
• Matter exists in three primary states: solid, liquid, and gas
• Matter is composed of atoms, ions, or particles
• The arrangement and spacing of these particles differ in each state

States of Matter

• Solids:
  • Solids have various sizes, shapes, and forms
  • Their particles are closely packed together
  • Solids cannot be compressed
  • Solids have a definite shape and volume
• Liquids:
  • Liquids are made of particles with enough space between them to allow flow
  • Liquids have definite volume
  • Liquids take the shape of their container
• Gases:
  • Gas particles are far apart and randomly arranged
  • Gases do not have a definite volume or shape
  • Gases take the shape of their container
  • Gases can be compressed
• Other States:
  • Plasma
  • Bose-Einstein Condensate

Phase Changes

• Some matter, like water, can change its phase depending on temperature
• Phase changes involve transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states
  • Melting: solid to liquid
  • Freezing: liquid to solid
  • Evaporation: liquid to gas
  • Condensation: gas to liquid
  • Sublimation: solid to gas
  • Deposition: gas to solid

Classifications of Matter

• Matter can be classified as:
  • Pure Substances
    • Elements: The simplest form of matter, composed of one kind of atom, which cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary means.
    • Compounds: Formed when elements react with each other. These are pure substances containing two or more different kinds of atoms that can be separated into simpler substances through chemical means (example: water (H₂O), sodium chloride (NaCl)).
  • Mixtures: A physical combination of two or more substances
    • Homogeneous Mixtures (Solutions):
      • Uniform composition throughout
      • Composed of a solute (dissolved substance) and a solvent (dissolving medium)
      • Examples: air, vinegar, rain water
    • Heterogeneous Mixtures:
      • Non-uniform composition
      • Examples: chocolate chip cookies, pizza, tossed salad, and sand in water mixture

Separating Mixtures

• Filtration: Separates a liquid from a solid in a mixture by passing the mixture through a filter
• Decantation: A method of separating a liquid from a solid by carefully pouring off the liquid
• Centrifugation: Technique that uses centrifugal force to separate substances with different densities by spinning a mixture
• Separatory Funnel: Separates two immiscible liquids
• Sieving: Separates mixtures of solids based on particle size
• Magnetic Separation: Separates mixtures of materials with different magnetic properties

Properties of Matter

• Physical Properties: Properties that can be observed or measured without changing the composition of the substance
  • Intensive: Independent of the amount of substance (e.g., color, melting point, density)
  • Extensive: Dependent on the amount of substance (e.g., mass, volume, length)
• Chemical Properties: Properties that describe how a substance reacts with other substances to form new substances
  • Examples: reactivity, flammability, toxicity, oxidation states, stability

Changes in Matter

• Physical Changes: Changes where the chemical composition of a substance does not change (e.g., melting ice, breaking glass, boiling water)
• Chemical Changes: Changes resulting in the formation of new substances with different properties (e.g., burning wood, rusting iron, digesting food)