Physical & Chemical Changes and States of Matter

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to physical and chemical changes, phases of matter, and separation techniques, based on the provided lecture notes.

Physical Change

Change in the form of a substance, not in its chemical composition. Examples include boiling water or cutting paper.

Chemical Change

A change where a given substance becomes a new substance or substances with different properties and different composition. Examples include burning wood or iron rusting.

Solid

A phase of matter where atoms are compacted, well organized, move slowest, and have a set volume and shape.

Liquid

A phase of matter where atoms/molecules have some space, take the shape of their container, have a set volume (not compressible), and move at a medium speed, flowing easily.

Gas

A phase of matter where atoms/molecules have lots of space, take the shape of their container, can be compressed (volume is not set), and move at the fastest speed.

Distillation

A technique that uses differences in boiling points to separate substances in a liquid mixture.

Filtration

A mechanical or physical process used to separate a solid from a liquid (or gas) by passing the mixture through a porous barrier.

Decanting

The separation of liquid from solid or other immiscible liquids by carefully removing the liquid layer at the top.