General Chemistry 1 – Matter and Its Properties

Vocabulary flashcards covering phases of matter, properties, classification, and mixtures for Grade 12 General Chemistry 1.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Solid

Phase of matter with definite shape and volume; particles are tightly packed and essentially fixed in position.

Liquid

Phase of matter with definite volume but no definite shape; conforms to the shape of its container.

Gas

Phase of matter with no definite shape or volume; particles are far apart and move freely.

Physical Property

Characteristic that can be observed or measured without changing a substance’s chemical identity (e.g., color, mass, density).

Chemical Property

Characteristic observed when a substance changes its chemical identity (e.g., reactivity, flammability).

Mass

The amount of matter in an object; a physical property.

Weight

Force exerted by gravity on mass; an extensive physical property.

Volume

Amount of three-dimensional space occupied by matter.

Density

Mass per unit volume of a substance.

Specific Gravity

Ratio of a substance’s density to the density of water.

Melting Point

Temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.

Boiling Point

Temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas.

Reactivity

Tendency of a substance to undergo chemical change.

Flammability

Ability of a substance to burn in the presence of oxygen.

Combustibility

Capability of a substance to ignite and sustain burning.

Biodegradability

Ability of a substance to be broken down by biological processes.

Acidity

Measure of a substance’s ability to donate protons (H⁺); a chemical property.

Intensive Property

Property that does not depend on the amount of matter present (e.g., density, boiling point).

Extensive Property

Property that depends on the amount of matter present (e.g., mass, volume).

Pure Substance

Matter with constant composition and uniform properties throughout; includes elements and compounds.

Element

Simplest form of matter made of only one type of atom; listed on the periodic table.

Compound

Substance composed of two or more elements chemically combined in fixed proportions.

Chemical Reaction

Process in which reactants form products with new identities; may be exothermic or endothermic.

Exothermic Reaction

Chemical reaction that releases heat to its surroundings.

Endothermic Reaction

Chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings.

Organic Compound

Compound containing carbon atoms (usually bonded with H, O, N, etc.).

Inorganic Compound

Compound that generally does not contain carbon, or contains it in simple forms such as CO₂.

Ionic Bond

Chemical bond formed by electron transfer between metals and nonmetals.

Covalent Bond

Chemical bond formed by sharing electrons between nonmetals.

Atom

Smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical identity.

Molecule

Group of two or more atoms bonded together; can represent elements or compounds.

Mixture

Physical combination of two or more substances in which each retains its own properties.

Homogeneous Mixture (Solution)

Mixture with uniform composition throughout; consists of a single phase.

Heterogeneous Mixture

Mixture with non-uniform composition; components are visibly distinct.

Solute

Substance present in a lesser amount that is dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

Substance present in the greatest amount that dissolves the solute.

Soluble

Describes a substance that will dissolve in a given solvent.

Miscible

Describes liquids that are soluble in each other in all proportions.

Colloid

Heterogeneous mixture with particle size between solution and suspension; exhibits the Tyndall effect and particles do not settle.

Tyndall Effect

Scattering of light by particles in a colloid, making the beam visible.

Suspension

Heterogeneous mixture with large particles that settle out over time due to gravity.

Periodic Table

Tabular arrangement of all known elements organized by atomic number and chemical properties.

Metals

Elements that are typically shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity.

Nonmetals

Elements that lack metallic properties; often brittle and poor conductors.

Metalloids

Elements with properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals.