Classifying Matter Lecture Notes

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the basics of matter classification, properties of elements, states of matter, and separation techniques in chemistry.

Chemistry

The study of the composition, structure, and properties of matter, the processes that matter undergoes, and the energy changes that accompany these processes.

Organic chemistry

The branch of chemistry that involves the study of most carbon-containing compounds.

Inorganic chemistry

The branch of chemistry that involves the study of non-organic substances.

Physical chemistry

The study of the properties and changes of matter and their relation to energy.

Analytical chemistry

The branch of chemistry focused on the identification of the components and composition of materials.

Biochemistry

The study of substances and processes occurring in living things.

Theoretical chemistry

The use of mathematics and computers to understand chemical behavior.

Matter

Anything that has mass and volume.

Mass

The amount of material that makes an object.

Volume

The amount of space an object takes up.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that maintains the identity of an element.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simple, stable substances and is made of one type of atom.

Compound

A substance that can be chemically broken down into simple substances and is made from the atoms of two or more elements.

Extrinsic property

A physical property that depends on the amount of matter in a substance, such as size, length, shape, or volume.

Intrinsic property

A physical property that does not depend on the amount of matter in a substance, such as color, smell, density, boiling point, or melting point.

Physical property

A characteristic that can be observed or measured without changing the identity of a substance, such as melting point or boiling point.

Chemical property

Relates to a substance's ability to undergo changes that transform it into a different substance, such as flammability, toxicity, or pH.

Chemical change

A change in which a substance is converted into a different substance, also known as a chemical reaction.

Reactants

Substances that react in a chemical change.

Products

Substances that form as a result of a chemical change.

Physical change

A change in a substance that doesn't change its identity, such as grinding, cutting, or all changes of state.

Solid

A state of matter with definite volume and definite shape, where atoms are packed in fixed positions and only vibrate in place.

Liquid

A state of matter with definite volume but indefinite shape, where atoms are close together but can overcome attractive forces to flow.

Gas

A state of matter with indefinite volume and indefinite shape, where atoms move very quickly and are far apart.

Plasma

A high-temperature state of matter in which atoms lose their electrons, such as that found in the sun.

Fusion

Another term for the physical change of melting (solid to liquid).

Solidification

Another term for the physical change of freezing (liquid to solid).

Sublimation

The physical change of a substance from a solid directly to a gas.

Deposition

The physical change of a substance from a gas directly to a solid.

Mixture

A blend of two or more kinds of matter, each of which retains its own identity and properties.

Pure substance

A material with a fixed composition where every sample has exactly the same characteristics; can be either elements or compounds.

Diatomic elements

The seven elements that never occur naturally on their own: hydrogen ($H_2$), nitrogen ($N_2$), oxygen ($O_2$), fluorine ($F_2$), chlorine ($Cl_2$), bromine ($Br_2$), and iodine ($I_2$).

Homogeneous mixture

A mixture in which all substances are distributed evenly throughout, so the composition is the same regardless of where a sample is taken.

Heterogeneous mixture

A mixture in which substances are distributed unevenly throughout, meaning the composition varies across different samples.

Filtration

A separation method where a solid part is trapped by filter paper and the liquid part runs through.

Decanting

A separation method where liquid is poured off after solid has settled to the bottom.

Centrifuge

A machine that spins a sample very quickly so that components with different densities separate.

Paper chromatography

A method used to separate mixtures, such as plant pigments, based on different parts moving at different speeds on paper.

Groups

Vertical columns on the periodic table, also called families, numbered 1 to 18, containing elements with similar chemical properties.

Periods

Horizontal rows on the periodic table where properties change consistently across the row.

Metals

Elements that are good conductors of electricity, mostly solids at room temperature, malleable, ductile, and have high tensile strength.

Nonmetals

Elements that are poor conductors of heat and electricity, often gases at room temperature; solids are usually brittle.

Metalloids

Elements along the staircase line (B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te) that have characteristics of both metals and nonmetals.

Noble gases

Generally unreactive gases found in the far right column of the periodic table.