CHEM VOCAB

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Mass

The measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Pure Substances

A form of matter with a uniform and definite composition, which cannot be separated into simpler substances by physical means.

Element

A pure substance made up of only one type of atom. They are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. Examples include gold (Au) and oxygen (O).

Compound

A pure substance made of two or more different elements that are chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a uniform composition throughout. The components are so evenly distributed that they are indistinguishable.

solution

A type of homogeneous mixture where one substance (the solute) is completely dissolved in another (the solvent). Saltwater is a common example.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a non-uniform composition. The different components can be easily distinguished, and their properties vary throughout the mixture.

Suspension

A type of heterogeneous mixture containing solid particles that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and will settle out over time, like sand in water.