CHAPTER 1: Basic Definitions, Matter, and The Scientific Method

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on matter, properties, changes, mixtures, elements, compounds, and the scientific method.

Chemistry

The study of the interactions of matter with other matter and with energy.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Physical property

A characteristic that describes matter as it exists (examples: shape, color, size, and temperature).

Chemical property

A characteristic that describes how matter changes form in the presence of other matter (example: burning).

Physical change

A change in which a sample of matter changes one or more physical properties but the chemical composition remains the same.

Chemical change

A process that demonstrates a chemical property; often accompanied by chemical reactions.

Substance

Matter that has the same physical and chemical properties throughout.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means

Compound

A substance composed of two or more elements with properties different from its constituent elements.

Mixture

A physical combination of two or more substances.

Heterogeneous mixture

A mixture in which the components remain distinct and identifiable.

Homogeneous mixture

A mixture that is so intimately mixed that it behaves as a single substance; also called a solution.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture.

Metal

An element that conducts electricity and heat well; typically shiny, silvery, solid, ductile, and malleable.

Nonmetal

An element that does not conduct electricity or heat well; often brittle and not shiny.

Semimetal/Metalloid

An element with properties of both metals and nonmetals.

Oxygen

A nonmetal example; it does not conduct heat or electricity well and is not shiny.

Science

The process of knowing about the natural universe through observation and experiment.

Hypothesis

An educated guess about how the natural universe works, based on prior knowledge.

Experiment

A test of the natural universe to see if a hypothesis is correct.

Theory

A general statement that explains a large number of observations.

Law

A specific statement thought never to be violated by the entire natural universe.

Qualitative description

A description of the quality of something (non-numerical).

Quantitative description

A description of a specific amount or quantity.

Phase of matter

Solid, liquid, or gas; distinct forms of matter.

Solid

A phase of matter with definite shape and volume.

Liquid

A phase of matter that takes the shape of its container and has a definite volume.

Gas

A phase of matter with no definite shape or volume, expanding to fill its container.

Sodium chloride

A compound formed from sodium and chlorine; an example of a compound.