General Chemistry (Chem 101) - Chapter 1: Matter and Measurement

Vocabulary flashcards covering Chapter 1 concepts on matter and the classification of matter.

Chemistry

The science that studies matter and the changes that matter undergoes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space; it can change from one form to another.

Gas

A state of matter with no fixed volume or shape; it can be compressed.

Liquid

A state with a distinct volume independent of its container and that takes the shape of the portion of the container it occupies.

Solid

A state with definite shape and definite volume.

Physical State

The classification of matter as gas, liquid, or solid; influenced by temperature and pressure.

Composition

Matter is categorized by its physical state and its composition (element, compound, or mixture).

Pure substance

A substance with fixed composition that cannot be further purified.

Mixture

A combination of two or more pure substances.

Element

A substance consisting of only identical atoms and that cannot be split into simpler substances.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more elements chemically bonded.

Homogeneous

A mixture with uniform composition throughout.

Heterogeneous

A mixture with nonuniform composition.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Volume

The amount of space occupied by a substance.

Physical Change

A change in a substance that does not alter its chemical identity.

Chemical Change

A change that produces one or more new substances.

Scientific Method

A systematic process used in science to investigate phenomena.

Metric System

A decimal-based system of measurement used in science.

Periodic Table

A table organizing elements by atomic number and properties; it shows groups (columns) and periods (rows).

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom's nucleus; identifies the element.

Relative Atomic Mass

The weighted average mass of an element's atoms relative to 1/12 the mass of carbon-12.

Group

A vertical column in the periodic table; elements in a group share similar properties.

Period

A horizontal row in the periodic table; periods reflect successive properties across the table.