Chemistry: The Central Science - Chapter 1 Introduction

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 1 of the chemistry lecture notes.

Chemistry

The study of matter, its properties, and the changes it undergoes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

States of Matter

The three forms in which matter can exist: solid, liquid, and gas.

Substance

A form of 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.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more elements that can be decomposed into simpler substances.

Atom

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

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a uniform composition throughout, also known as a solution.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture in which the composition is not uniform throughout the sample.

Law of Constant Composition

The principle stating that a compound's relative number of atoms of each element is the same in any sample.