States of Matter, Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the states of matter, physical and chemical changes, classification of matter (elements, compounds, mixtures), element symbol derivations, alloy compositions, and distinctions between compounds and mixtures.

Solid

A state of matter that has a definite volume and a definite shape.

Liquid

A state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape, therefore taking the shape of its container.

Gas

A state of matter that has neither a definite volume nor shape, filling the entire container.

Physical Change

A change in which no new substance is formed, little or no heat energy is required, no change in mass occurs, constituent properties are retained, and it is easily reversed (e.g., melting of solids, vaporization of liquids, freezing of liquids, condensation, magnetization, dissolution of salt, and cooling of margarine).

Chemical Change

A change that is not easily reversible, requires great energy, results in a change in mass, does not retain the properties of its constituents, and results in the formation of a new substance (e.g., burning of substances like wood and paper, rusting of iron, dissolution of metals in acids, fermentation, and decay).

Element

A substance that cannot be split into smaller units by any chemical process, serving as the building blocks of all chemical substances; there are 118 elements in nature categorized into metals, non-metals, and metalloids.

Metalloids

Elements that display intermediate chemical properties, exemplified in the notes by Silicon, germanium, Boron, and Arsenic.

Derivations of Chemical Symbols

Letters or abbreviations representing elements derived via three ways: the first letter of the element (e.g., $H$, $N$, $B$, $O$), the first and another letter (e.g., $He$, $Ne$, $Mg$, Chlorinesium-$Cl$, Manganesse-$Ma$, Zinc-$Zc$), or the Latin name of the element.

Latin Name Derivations for Element Symbols

Element symbols originating from historical Latin names: Sodium from Natrium ($Na$), Potassium from Kalium ($K$), Iron from Ferrum ($Fe$), Gold from Aurum ($Au$), Copper from Cuprum ($Cu$), Lead from Plumbum ($Pb$), and Silver from Argentum ($Ag$).

Compound

A substance formed from the combination of two or more elements chemically combined together as a result of a chemical change (such as $Mg + H_2SO_4 \rightarrow MgSO_4 + H_2$), where component elements are present in a fixed ratio by mass.

Fixed Mass Proportion in Water ($H_2O$)

The specific mass ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in water, where a hydrogen molecule weighs $2\,g$ and an oxygen molecule/atom weighs $16\,g$, establishing a fixed ratio of $2\,g : 16\,g$.

Mixture

A substance containing two or more constituents that have variable composition, retain their individual identities, and can be easily separated by physical means.

Homogenous Mixture

A mixture that is uniform in composition and possesses a single phase, including examples such as water and ethanol, water and sugar, sea water, water and salt, brass, and air.

Heterogenous Mixture

A mixture whose composition and properties are not uniform throughout and has more than a single phase, including examples such as water and oil, water and kerosene, water and sand, blood, muddy water, and chalk particles and water.

Brass

A solid homogenous alloy/mixture consisting of copper and zinc.

Bronze

A solid alloy/mixture consisting of copper and tin.

Steel

A solid mixture composed of iron and carbon.

Blood

A heterogenous mixture composed of plasma, erythrocytes, leucocytes, thrombocytes, hormones, glucose, vitamins, antibodies, etc.

Crude Oil

A mixture composed of natural gas, petrol, kerosene, diesel, naptha, waxes, etc.

Soil

A heterogenous mixture composed of sand, loam, silt, humus, clay, stones, air, water, microbes, etc.

Brine

A liquid mixture containing salt and water, categorized under mixtures of a solid and a liquid.

Physical State Types of Mixtures

Classifications of mixtures based on states of matter: mixture of solid (brass); solid and liquid (muddy water, brine, tincture of iodine, writing ink); solid and gas (sand storm, smoke); liquids (water and alcohol, kerosene and water); liquid and gas (carbonated drink, mist, dew); and gases (air and rotten egg smell).

Differences Between Compounds and Mixtures

Compounds are always homogenous, chemically bound, inseparable by physical means, possess fixed proportions by mass, have properties entirely different from their constituents, and can be represented by formulas; Mixtures may be homogenous or heterogenous, are not chemically bound, are physically separable, lack fixed proportions by mass, have properties that are the sum of their constituents, and cannot be represented by formulas.

Classification of Dissolution Changes

The dissolution of copper in concentrated trioxonitrate(V) acid is classified as a chemical change (metal reacting in acid), whereas the dissolution of sodium chloride in water is classified as a physical change.