Intro. to Matter

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basic properties of matter, particle theory, states of matter, phase changes, and metric measurements including density.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space (volume).

Atom

The tiny particles that make up all matter; they can be atoms, molecules, or ions.

Particle Theory of Matter

A theory stating that all matter is made of tiny particles which are constantly moving and have spaces between them.

Proton

A subatomic particle that has a positive charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle that has a neutral or no charge.

Electron

A subatomic particle that has a negative charge.

Nucleus

The center of the atom which contains both the protons and the neutrons.

Element

Matter made of all the same type of atoms.

Solid

A state of matter with a definite shape and a definite volume where particles are packed close together and vibrate back and forth.

Liquid

A state of matter with an indefinite shape and a definite volume where particles flow over one another.

Gas

A state of matter with an indefinite shape and an indefinite volume where particles move fast and are very far apart.

Plasma

A state of matter with an indefinite shape and volume that has an electrical charge; it makes up $99.9\%$ of matter in the universe.

Melting

A phase change from solid to liquid where particle motion increases.

Vaporization

A phase change from liquid to gas where particle motion increases.

Freezing

A phase change from liquid to solid where particle motion decreases.

Deposition

A phase change from gas to solid where particle motion decreases.

Sublimation

A phase change from solid to gas where particle motion increases.

Condensation

A phase change from gas to liquid where particle motion decreases.

Ionization

A phase change from gas to plasma.

Recombination

A phase change from plasma to gas.

Endothermic

A reaction where energy is going into the particles, making them move faster.

Exothermic

A reaction where energy is exiting or leaving the particles, making them move slower.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, typically measured in grams ($g$) using a triple beam balance.

Volume

The amount of space an object takes up, measured in milliliters ($mL$), liters ($L$), or cubic centimeters ($cm^3$).

Meniscus

The curve at the water level in a graduated cylinder used to accurately measure volume.

Displacement Method

A method used to find the volume of an irregular solid by subtracting the volume of water from the volume of water with the object submerged.

Density

A physical property of matter defined as mass per unit volume ($D = M / V$) that measures how tightly packed particles are.

Buoyancy

A force that pushes an object upward, such as the force created when heating air inside a balloon to make it less dense than cooler air.