Investigating Matter Flashcards

Flashcards covering the properties, states, and changes of matter, as well as the fundamentals of chemistry based on the Investigating Matter reader.

How is matter defined?

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Mass refers to the amount of matter an object is made of; weight measures the force of Earth's gravity pulling on that matter using a scale.

What tools are used to measure the volume of an object?

Tools such as graduated cylinders and rulers are used to determine dimensions and measure volume.

What is the definition of a property of matter?

A property is a quality, trait, or detail used to describe something.

At what temperature does ice reach its melting point?

$$32^{\circ}F$$

What is the melting point of steel?

Steel does not melt until the temperature reaches around $2,500^{\circ}F$.

What is solubility?

Solubility is the property of how matter dissolves in another substance, such as water.

How do the solubility levels of sugar and sand compare in water?

Sugar has high solubility and dissolves easily, while sand has low solubility and will not dissolve in water.

What are the physical properties of the rock called pumice?

Pumice is usually light tan or gray, has low reflectivity (dull), and is buoyant (it floats in water).

What is the scratch test used for?

The scratch test is used to determine hardness by scratching materials against each other to see which is harder.

Why is copper frequently used for electrical wires?

Copper has high electrical conductivity, meaning an electric current passes through it easily.

Which metals are specifically mentioned as being attracted to magnets?

Iron, nickel, and cobalt.

What is the design process?

A plan or method used to find and develop solutions to a problem.

In the design process, what is the difference between criteria and constraints?

Criteria are the standards by which something is judged (what it needs to be), while constraints are the limits on the design process (such as cost or size).

What are the five steps of the design process depicted in the text?

1. Define the Problem; 2. Plan a Solution; 3. Make a Model; 4. Test the Model; 5. Evaluate and Redesign.

What is evidence in a scientific context?

Evidence is information that helps answer a question, support a claim, or solve a problem.

How are models and particles defined in the study of matter?

Models are pictures, symbols, or physical examples used to explain things we cannot directly observe; particles are tiny pieces of matter that are too small to be seen.

What observation supports the claim that air is matter and takes up space?

Blowing air into a balloon causes it to expand, showing that the gases have mass and take up space.

What is water vapor?

Water vapor refers to particles of water found in the air, even when they cannot be seen.

How does temperature affect the process of dissolving?

The warmer a liquid is, the more matter will dissolve into it and the faster it will dissolve; cooler temperatures cause particles to move slower and group back together.

What is evaporation?

Evaporation is the process where matter changes form from a liquid to a gas.

What is a physical change?

A change that occurs when matter changes form (like shape or size), but no new type of matter is formed.

What are the common states of matter?

Solid, liquid, and gas.

How is density defined and what is the density of liquid water?

Density is the measure of the amount of matter in a certain amount of space. Liquid water has a density of $1.0000\,g/ml$.

What is the density of solid water (ice) compared to water vapor?

Solid ice is $0.9150\,g/ml$, while water vapor is $0.0006\,g/ml$.

How do the volume and shape of solids, liquids, and gases differ?

Solids have definite shape and volume; liquids have definite volume but indefinite shape; gases have indefinite volume and shape.

What does it mean to conserve matter?

To conserve means to maintain a constant quantity; no matter is gained or lost during physical or chemical changes.

If a nickel weighs $5\,g$ and is made from a sheet weighing $1,309\,g$, how is matter conserved if $144$ nickels are produced?

The $144$ nickels weigh $720\,g$, and the remaining $589\,g$ is scrap metal; their sum equals the original $1,309\,g$ sheet.

What is a mixture?

A combination of different types of matter where each remains unchanged and can usually be separated back into original parts.

What is a chemical change?

The result when two or more types of matter interact to form a new type of matter with new properties.

What are the six types of evidence that a chemical change has occurred?

1. Formation of gas; 2. Change of odor; 3. Change of color; 4. Change of temperature; 5. Production of light; 6. Formation of a precipitate.

What is a precipitate?

A solid that forms from the combination of two solutions during a chemical change.

What is chemistry?

The science of what matter is made of and how matter changes.

Who were the ancient Greeks that first proposed matter was made of small particles?

Democritus and Leucippus.

What is the origin of the word 'atom'?

It comes from the Greek 'atomos', combining 'a-' (not) and 'temnein' (to cut), meaning 'not to cut'.

How did John Dalton contribute to the language of chemistry in 1808?

He developed the atomic theory, stating that matter is made of atoms and that atoms of different elements can join to make different types of matter.

What is an element?

A substance made of a single type of atom.

How many different kinds of atoms have scientists found, and how many occur naturally on Earth?

Scientists have found $118$ different atoms, with approximately $94$ occurring naturally.

What is a molecule?

A substance made of one or more kinds of atoms joined together by chemical bonds.

What atoms combine to form a water molecule?

Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom ($H_2O$).

What atoms combine to form a carbon dioxide molecule?

One atom of carbon and two atoms of oxygen ($CO_2$).