Lecture 1: Matter and Measurements

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on matter, measurements, states of matter, units, significant figures, density, solubility, and changes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Volume

The amount of space a substance occupies.

Element

A pure substance consisting of only one type of atom.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more elements are chemically combined in fixed proportions.

Pure Substance

A substance with a fixed composition that cannot be separated into simpler substances by physical means.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances physically combined, with variable composition.

Homogeneous

Uniform composition throughout.

Heterogeneous

Nonuniform composition; different parts can be distinguished.

Solid

A state of matter with a definite shape and volume.

Liquid

A state of matter that flows and assumes the shape of its container, with a definite volume.

Gas

A state of matter that expands to fill its container, taking its shape and volume.

Plasma

A fourth state of matter consisting of charged particles; found in stars and high-energy environments.

Central Science

Chemistry's role as foundational science due to its connections to many disciplines.

Law of Conservation of Matter

Mass is conserved during physical and chemical changes.

Measurements

Quantitative observations; the process of determining the amount of substance present.

SI Unit

The International System of Units used in science.

Meter

SI unit of length.

Kilogram

SI unit of mass.

Liter

Unit of volume; 1 L = 1000 milliliters.

Fahrenheit

Temperature scale used in some contexts; part of conversion between scales.

Celsius

Temperature scale used in most scientific contexts; related to Fahrenheit and Kelvin.

Kelvin

Absolute temperature scale; 0 K = absolute zero.

Density

Mass per unit volume; an intensive property.

Solubility

Amount of solute that dissolves in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature; varies with temperature.

Solvent

Substance that dissolves solute.

Solute

Substance that is dissolved in a solvent.

Saturated

A solution containing the maximum amount of solute at a given temperature.

Unsaturated

A solution that contains less than the maximum amount of solute at a given temperature.

Supersaturated

A solution that contains more solute than the maximum normally dissolved at a given temperature.

Physical Property

Property observed without changing the substance's identity.

Chemical Property

Property observed during a chemical reaction; indicates how a substance behaves.

Intensive Property

Property that does not depend on the amount of matter.

Extensive Property

Property that depends on the amount of matter present.

Physical Change

Change in which the substance's appearance or state changes without changing its identity.

Chemical Change

Change that produces one or more new substances.

Significant Figures

Digits that carry the meaningful precision of a measurement, reflecting uncertainty.

Uncertainty

Estimated doubt in a measurement; the last digit is uncertain.

Exact Numbers

Counts or defined quantities not limited by significant figures.

Rounding

Process of adjusting a number to a specified number of significant figures or decimal places.