CHE 101 General Chemistry I - Matter and its Classification

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definition and classification of matter, including states of matter, atoms, molecules, pure substances, and mixtures as presented in Lesson 1 of General Chemistry I.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space (has volume).

Solid

A state of matter characterized by a fixed shape, fixed volume, and particles that are very close together with very low compressibility.

Liquid

A state of matter that flows, takes the shape of its container, has a fixed volume, and contains particles that are close together.

Gas

A state of matter that fills its container, has a volume that is not fixed, is highly compressible, and consists of particles that are far apart and moving freely.

Atom

The smallest particle of an element that retains its chemical identity.

Molecule

Two or more atoms chemically bonded together, which may contain atoms of the same element or different elements.

Pure Substance

A classification of matter that has a fixed composition, such as an element or a compound.

Element

A pure substance consisting of one type of atom that cannot be broken down chemically into simpler substances, such as $Cu$, $O_{2}$, or $S_{8}$.

Compound

Two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio that can be decomposed only by chemical change and has properties different from the elements that form it.

Mixture

Two or more substances physically combined in variable proportions that can be separated by physical methods.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that is uniform throughout and consists of one visible phase, such as air, salt solution, or brass.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture that is not uniform throughout and contains more than one region or phase, such as soil, granite, or a mixture of oil and water.