What is matter?

• Matter is anything that occupies space and

has a mass.

• Everything you can see, touch, smell or

taste in your room is made of matter.

• Even though it appears to be smooth and

continuous, matter is actually composed of
a lot of tiny little pieces called atoms.
 Atoms and Molecules

• Atoms are the tiny particles that make up

all matter.

• In most substances, the atoms are joined

together in units called molecules and
compounds.
 Different States of Matter
• Matter can be solids, liquids, gases or plasma.

• Changing matter from one state to another is called “change in state”.

Melting, boiling and freezing are all examples of changes in state.

• The atoms, molecules or compounds have different structures in solids,

liquids and gases which leads to different properties.
 Solids

• The particles in a solid are packed close

together and are fixed in position
– though they may vibrate.

• The close packing of the particles results in

solids being incompressible.

• The inability of the particles to move around

results in solids retaining their shape and
volume when placed in a new container; and
prevents the particles from flowing.
 Liquids

• The particles in a liquid are

closely packed, but they have
some ability to move around.

• The close packing results in

liquids being incompressible.

• But, the ability of the particles to

move allows liquids to take the
shape of their container and to
flow – however they don’t have
enough freedom to escape and
expand to fill the container.
 Gases
• In the gas state, the particles have
complete freedom from each other.

• The particles are constantly flying around,

bumping into each other and the container.

• In the gas state, there is a lot of empty

space between the particles
– on average.

• Because there is a lot of empty space, the

particles can be squeezed closer together –
therefore gases are compressible.

• Because the particles are not held in close

contact and are moving freely, gases
expand to fill and take the shape of their
container, and will flow.
 States of Matter
H2O
State Gas Liquid Solid

‘Water’ Steam Water Ice

Shape Variable Variable Constant
Volume Variable Constant Constant
Particle Random - Random, but Fixed - limited
Movement each particle only under motion
can go the surface
anywhere
Compressib
ility Yes No No
 Chemical and Physical Properties

• Physical properties: characteristics that are measured or observed that

identify a substance without changing the chemical composition of the
substance

Examples: melting, boiling, color, smell, taste, density

• Chemical properties: Those properties a substance displays only through

changing its composition.

Comparison:
The characteristic odor of gasoline is a physical property-gasoline does not
change its composition when it exhibits its odor. On the other hand, the
flammability of gasoline is a chemical property-gasoline does change its
composition when it burns.
 Some Physical Properties
mass volume density
solid liquid gas
melting point boiling point volatility
taste odor color
texture shape solubility
specific heat capcity thermal conductance magnetism
malleability ductility

Some Chemical Properties

Acidity Basicity (aka Alkalinity)

Causticity Corrosiveness

Reactivity Stability

Inertness Explosiveness

(In)Flammability Combustibility

Oxidizing Ability Reducing Ability

 Chemical and Physical Changes
• Physical change occurs when the appearance of a substance changes but
the chemical composition of the substance remains the same. Melting,
freezing and boiling of a substance are a few examples.
– The kinds of molecules don’t change.

• Chemical changes result in a substance changing into a new substance(s)

with different composition(s) and different physical properties. A chemical
reaction results in chemical changes.
–The new substances have different molecules than the original substances.

–You will observe different physical properties because the new

substances have their own physical properties.
 Matter can be pure or a mixture
• Pure matter has a definite composition that does not change.

• Elements and compounds represent pure substances.

• Most matter exists as a mixture that can be separated into pure substances
using physical methods: NaCl dissolved in water is an example.

Matter

Pure Substance Mixture

Constant Composition Variable Composition
Homogeneous Homogeneous or
Heterogeneous
 Pure Substances vs. Mixtures

• Pure Substances • Mixtures

1) all samples have the same 1) different samples may show
physical and chemical different properties
properties 2) variable composition = samples
2) constant composition = all made with the same pure
samples have the same pieces in substances may have different
the same percentages percentages
3) homogeneous 3) homogeneous or
4) separate into components based heterogeneous
on chemical properties 4) separate into components based
5) temperature usually stays on physical properties
constant while melting or boiling 5) temperature changes while melting
or boiling because composition
changes
 Separation of Mixtures

• Separate mixtures based on different physical properties of the

components
– Physical change
Different Physical Property Technique

Boiling Point Distillation

State of Matter (solid/liquid/gas) Filtration

Adherence to a Surface Chromatography

Volatility Evaporation

Density Centrifugation &

Decanting
 How are elements different from compounds?

•Smallest piece of an element is called an atom.

•Smallest piece of a compound is called a molecule.

•Molecules are made of atoms.
•All molecules of a compound are identical and can exist as
individual discrete units such as gas molecules or liquid molecules.
Solids that are in a fixed composition are not usually referred to as
molecules.
•Each molecule has the same number and type of atoms.
 Classifying Pure Substances as Elements and Compounds
• Substances which can not be broken down into simpler substances by
chemical reactions are called elements.
• Most substances are chemical combinations of elements. These are
called compounds.
– Compounds can be broken down into elements
– Properties of the compound are not related to the properties of the
elements that compose it