Introduction to General Chemistry: Scientific Method, Matter, Classification, and Measurement

Chemistry

The study of the composition, properties, and interactions of matter. Also a  science based on observation and experimentation

What did the Greeks think about matter

 Matter consists of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.

What did alchemists attempt to do?

They transform base metals (common metals) into noble metals, especially valuable metals such as gold.

What is a hypothesis?

A tentative explanation for observations that can be tested through experiments.

What are scientific laws?

Summarize a vast number of experimental observations and describe or predict some aspect of the natural world.

What is a scientific theory?

A well-substantiated, comprehensive, and testable explanation of a particular aspect of nature.

What is the macroscopic domain of chemistry?

Is the realm of everyday objects and events large enough to be directly observed using human senses, such as sight and touch.

What is the microscopic domain of chemistry?

The microscopic domain involves things that are too small to usually be seen directly, such as atoms and molecules. Much of this domain is understood through imagination and scientific models, although some things can be viewed with microscopes.

What does the prefix “micro” mean?

The prefix micro comes from Greek and means small.

What is the symbolic domain of chemistry?

Specialized symbols, formulas, and equations to represent components of the macroscopic and microscopic worlds.

What is an example of the symbolic domain in chemistry?

The chemical formula H₂O is an example of the symbolic domain because it uses symbols to represent water and its atomic composition.

What is matter?

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

What is a solid?

A solid is a state of matter that is rigid and has a definite shape.

What is a liquid?

A state of matter that flows and takes the shape of its container but maintains its own volume.

What is a gas?

A state of matter that takes both the shape and volume of its container.

What is plasma?

A gaseous state of matter containing an appreciable amount of electrically charged particles. It differs from an ordinary gas and is typically found at very high temperatures.

Where can plasma occur naturally?

Plasma occurs naturally in stars and lightning.

What are examples of man-made plasma?

An example of man-made plasma is found in certain television or display screens.

What is mass?

A measure of the amount of matter in an object.

What is weight?

The force that gravity exerts on an object.

What is the Law of Conservation of Matter?

There is no detectable change in the total quantity of matter when matter changes from one type into another.

What is a pure substance?

Matter with a constant and definite composition.

What is an element?

A type of pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical changes.

What is an example of an element?

Gold (Au) is an example of an element because it is a pure substance that cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances.

What is a compound?

A pure substance that can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical changes.

What is an example of a compound?

Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is an example of a compound because it contains multiple elements chemically bonded together.

What is a mixture?

Composed of two or more types of matter present in varying amounts that can be separated by physical changes.

What is a homogeneous mixture?

A uniform composition and appears visually the same throughout.

What is another name for a homogeneous mixture?

Another name for a homogeneous mixture is a solution.

What is a heterogeneous mixture?

A composition that varies from point to point, meaning different parts of the mixture may have visibly different properties.

What is an atom?

An atom is the smallest particle of an element that retains the properties of that element and can enter into chemical combinations.

What is a molecule?

A molecule consists of two or more atoms connected by strong forces called chemical bonds.

What are properties of matter?

The characteristics that allow us to distinguish one substance from another.

What is a physical property?

A characteristic of matter that can be observed or measured without changing the chemical composition of the substance.

What is a physical change?

A change in the state or properties of matter without changing its chemical composition.

What is a chemical change?

A change in matter that involves a change in its chemical composition, resulting in the formation of one or more new substances.

What is a chemical property?

The ability or inability of a substance to change into another type of matter.

What is an extensive property?

A property that depends on the amount of matter present.

What are examples of extensive properties?

Examples of extensive properties include mass, volume, and heat.

What is an intensive property?

A property that does not depend on the amount of matter present.

What are examples of intensive properties?

Include density and temperature.

What are the three types of information provided by every measurement?

Every measurement provides:

1. A number showing the size or magnitude.

2. A unit showing the standard of comparison.

3. An indication of the uncertainty of the measurement.

What are the seven base quantities in the SI system?

The seven SI base quantities are:

• Length

• Mass

• Time

• Temperature

• Electric current

• Amount of substance

• Luminous intensity

What is the SI unit of length?

The SI unit of length is the meter (m).

What is the SI unit of mass?

The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).

What is the SI unit of temperature?

The SI unit of temperature is the kelvin (K).

What is the SI unit of time?

The SI unit of time is the second (s).

What is volume?

Volume is the measure of the amount of space occupied by an object.