Particulate Nature of Matter Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of flashcards covering vocabulary from the Particulate Nature of Matter lecture, including ancient Greek views, the four main principles of matter, and the characteristics of the three states of matter.

Matter

Anything that has mass and volume.

Atoms

The building blocks of matter, which may also exist in the form of molecules or ions.

Atomos

A Greek word meaning indivisible, referencing tiny bits of matter that cannot be divided further.

Empedoclean Elements

The four primal matters: air, fire, water, and earth.

Aristotle’s View of Matter

The suggestion that all space is filled with matter, implying no empty spaces (void) exist.

Continuity of Matter

The principle that matter can be broken down and cut into pieces over and over again without ever reaching a smallest part.

Discontinuity of Matter

The idea originated by Leucippus and Democritus that matter is composed of discrete particles rather than a single primal material.

Particulate Nature of Matter

A model based on four ideas: matter is composed of discrete particles, there is empty space between them, particles are in constant motion, and forces act between them.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion that increases as temperature increases, resulting in faster movement of particles.

Intermolecular Forces

Forces that exist between particles of matter which may be attractive or repulsive.

Vibratory Motion

The specific movement of particles in a solid where they remain in fixed positions.

Solid

A state of matter where particles are compact, arranged in an orderly manner, held by strong intermolecular forces, and have low energy.

Liquid

A state of matter where particles are close together but not orderly, having moderate spaces and forces, allowing them to slide past one another.

Gas

A state of matter where particles are far apart and arranged randomly, with huge spaces and very minimal intermolecular forces.

Vaporization

A phase change occurring when matter is heated, changing it from a liquid to a gas.

Fusion

A phase change that occurs when matter is heated (commonly known as melting).

Sublimation

The phase change where a solid turns directly into a gas when heated.

Condensation

A phase change where matter changes from a gas to a liquid.

Freezing

The phase change from a liquid to a solid.

Deposition

The phase change where matter transforms from a gas directly into a solid.