Chapter 1 Vocabulary: Matter and Measurement

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, units, properties, and concepts from Chapter 1: Matter and Measurement.

Chemistry

The study of the properties and behavior of matter.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Atom

The fundamental building block of matter; each element is made of a unique kind of atom.

Compound

A substance made of two or more different kinds of elements.

Molecule

A group of connected atoms as seen in nature.

States of Matter

The three physical forms of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Substance

Matter that has distinct properties and a composition that does not vary from sample to sample.

Element

A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances.

Law of Constant Composition

Also known as the Law of Definite Proportions, it states that the relative number of atoms of each element that makes up a compound is the same in any sample.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances in which each substance retains its chemical identity and properties.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture that varies in composition throughout a sample.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that has the same composition throughout a sample.

Solution

Another name for a homogeneous mixture.

Physical Properties

Properties that can be observed without changing a substance into another substance, such as boiling point, density, mass, or volume.

Chemical Properties

Properties that can only be observed when a substance is changed into another substance, such as flammability, corrosiveness, or reactivity with acid.

Intensive Properties

Properties that are independent of the amount of the substance present, such as density, boiling point, or color.

Extensive Properties

Properties that depend upon the amount of the substance present, such as mass, volume, or energy.

Physical Change

Changes in matter that do not change the composition of a substance, such as changes of state, temperature, and volume.

Chemical Change

Changes in matter that result in new substances, such as combustion, oxidation, and decomposition.

Filtration

A method used to separate solid substances from liquids and solutions.

Distillation

A process that uses differences in the boiling points of substances to separate a homogeneous mixture into its components.

Chromatography

A technique that separates substances on the basis of differences in the ability of substances to adhere to a solid surface.

SI Base Units

Système International d’Unités, a metric system where a different base unit is used for each measured physical quantity.

Kilogram ($\text{kg}$)

The SI base unit for mass.

Meter ($\text{m}$)

The SI and metric base unit for length.

Second ($\text{s}$ or $\text{sec}$)

The SI and metric base unit for time.

Kelvin ($\text{K}$)

The SI base unit for temperature, based on the properties of gases.

Mole ($\text{mol}$)

The SI base unit for amount of substance.

Ampere ($\text{A}$ or $\text{amp}$)

The SI base unit for electric current.

Candela ($\text{cd}$)

The SI base unit for luminous intensity.

Mass

A measure of the amount of material in an object.

Length

A measure of distance.

Derived Unit of Volume

Volume is derived from length ($\text{m} \times \text{m} \times \text{m} = \text{m}^3$); commonly measured in liters ($\text{L}$) and milliliters ($\text{mL}$).

Liter ($\text{L}$)

A metric unit of volume equal to a cube $1\,\text{decimeter}\text{ (dm)}$ long on each side ($1\,\text{dm}^3 = 1\,\text{L}$).

Milliliter ($\text{mL}$)

A metric unit of volume equal to a cube $1\,\text{centimeter}\text{ (cm)}$ long on each side, equivalent to $1\,\text{cubic centimeter}\text{ (cm}^3)$.

Temperature

The property of an object that determines the direction of heat flow, flowing spontaneously from higher to lower temperature.

Celsius Scale

A temperature scale based on water properties, freezing at $0\,^\circ\text{C}$ and boiling at $100\,^\circ\text{C}$.

Absolute Zero

The lowest possible temperature ($0\,\text{K}$) on the Kelvin scale.

Kelvin to Celsius Conversion Formula

The equation used to convert temperature from Celsius to Kelvin: $\text{K} = ^\circ\text{C} + 273.15$.

Fahrenheit and Celsius Conversions

Equations used to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius: $^\circ\text{F} = \frac{9}{5}(^\circ\text{C}) + 32$ and $^\circ\text{C} = \frac{5}{9}(^\circ\text{F} - 32)$.

Density

A physical property calculated as mass divided by volume ($D = \frac{m}{V}$), commonly expressed in $\text{g/mL}$ or $\text{g/cm}^3$.

Exact Numbers

Numbers that are counted or given by definition, containing no uncertainty (for example, $12$ eggs in $1$ dozen).

Inexact Numbers

Numbers obtained through measurements that contain uncertainty due to equipment limitations.

Accuracy

The proximity of a measurement to the true value of a quantity.

Precision

The proximity of several measurements to each other.

Significant Figures

The digits in a measured quantity that were actually measured, used to avoid overstating accuracy in calculations.

Addition and Subtraction Sig Fig Rule

Answers are rounded to the least significant decimal place present among the numbers in the calculation.

Multiplication and Division Sig Fig Rule

Answers are rounded to the least number of significant figures present in any number in the calculation.

Dimensional Analysis

A problem-solving method that uses conversion factor ratios to convert one unit of measurement to another.

Burette

A volumetric glass tube equipped with a stopcock valve used to deliver variable volumes of liquid.