General Chemistry 1: Properties of Matter and Separation Techniques

Vocabulary flashcards covering General Chemistry 1 concepts including matter, states of matter, physical and chemical properties, classifications of substances, and separation techniques.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Atoms

The smallest particles composing matter; the tiny building blocks of matter.

Molecules

A group of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.

Ions

Particles with charge.

Plasma

A superheated state of matter where electrons are ripped away from atoms, forming an ionized gas.

Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC)

A unique quantum state of matter consisting of a dilute gas of bosons cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero.

Physical Property

A characteristic of a substance that can be measured or observed without changing the identity of matter.

Chemical Property

Characteristics that describe a substance's ability to undergo specific chemical change, thus changing the identity of matter.

Intensive Physical Properties

Properties that do not depend on the quantity of matter present, such as color, density, melting point, and boiling point.

Extensive Physical Properties

Properties that change their value when the amount of matter or substance is changed, such as mass, volume, size, and weight.

Electrical Conductors

Materials that can transmit the flow of energy.

Electrical Insulators

Materials that prevent the flow of energy.

Density

The measure of the mass of a substance divided by its volume, indicating how "heavy" a substance is.

Malleability

The ability of a material to be pressed, hammered, or rolled into thin sheets without breaking.

Ductility

The ability of a material to be stretched under stress and converted into thin wires.

Solubility

The ability of a substance (solute) to be dissolved in a given substance (solvent).

Boiling Point

The temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid into gas.

Melting Point

The temperature at which a material changes from solid into a liquid.

Polarity

The way in which an atom forms a covalent bond, relating to solubility and intermolecular attractions.

Acidity

A chemical property where a substance releases hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in water, making it sour and reactive.

Flammability

A chemical property where a substance reacts with oxygen when heated and burns, producing heat and light.

Corrosiveness

A chemical property where a substance slowly destroys or wears away other materials through a chemical reaction.

Pure Substance

Substances composed of only one type of particle with a continual structure.

Elements

Substances composed of only one type of atom that cannot be broken down into a new substance by physical or chemical means.

Compounds

Substances in which two or more elements are combined chemically in a fixed ratio, which can be broken down by chemical methods.

Mixtures

Substances made of two or more elements or compounds that are combined physically but not chemically.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that is uniform in composition, where every part is like every other part; also known as a solution.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture in which the components are not uniformly distributed and the different parts are easily distinguishable.

Chromatography

A separation method used to recognize chemicals like coloring agents in foods or inks based on their movement through a medium.

Filtration

A method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid, often used in water treatment.

Distillation

A purification process where components of a liquid mixture are vaporized and then condensed to separate them based on differences in boiling points.

Evaporation

The procedure by which a liquid changes to a vapor or gas state, used for separating a soluble solid from a solvent.

Magnetism

A separation technique perfect for mixtures of two solids where one part has magnetic properties (like cobalt, nickel, or iron).

Sieving

A method used to separate solid particles based on size, typically separating larger particles from smaller ones.

Decantation

The process of separating liquid from heavy insoluble solids by gently pouring the liquid out after the solid has settled.