Flashcards for Fundamentals of Matter and States of Matter

These flashcards focus on key vocabulary and concepts related to the fundamentals of matter and states of matter from the lecture notes.

Kinetic Energy

The energy associated with the motion of an object.

Thermal Energy

The inherent energy of matter, which comes in two flavors: temperature and state of matter.

States of Matter

The distinct forms that different phases of matter take on: solid, liquid, and gas.

Phase Change

A transition of matter from one state to another, such as melting, boiling, or freezing.

Endothermic Reaction

A process that absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings.

Exothermic Reaction

A process that releases thermal energy to its surroundings.

Kinetic Molecular Theory (KMT)

Explains the macroscopic behavior of matter by considering the motion and behavior of particles on a microscopic level.

Solid

A state of matter characterized by closely packed particles in a fixed structure with a definite shape and volume.

Liquid

A state of matter where particles are close together but can flow, taking the shape of their container while maintaining a fixed volume.

Gas

A state of matter with particles that move freely and are far apart, leading to no fixed shape or volume.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that retains its own properties and can be separated by physical means.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that has a uniform composition throughout.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture that consists of visibly different substances or phases.

Chemical Change

A process that results in the formation of new chemical substances with different properties.

Physical Change

A change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance without altering its chemical composition.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance, which determines whether it will float or sink in a fluid.

Volume

The amount of space that a substance or object occupies.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, typically measured in grams or kilograms.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Molecule

A group of two or more atoms bonded together.

Atom

The smallest unit of a chemical element, consisting of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.