General Chemistry 1 – Fundamentals of Matter

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from General Chemistry 1 lecture notes on matter, its properties, states, and separation techniques.

Chemistry

The science that studies the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Pure Substance

A homogeneous material composed of only one kind of matter with a definite, fixed composition.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by chemical means; represented by a chemical symbol.

Metal

An elemental category (e.g., Fe, Au, Al) characterized by luster, conductivity, and malleability.

Non-metal

An elemental category (e.g., C, H, O, N, Cl) lacking metallic properties such as high conductivity and luster.

Metalloid

Elements (e.g., B, Si, As) that exhibit properties intermediate between metals and non-metals.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more elements chemically combined in definite proportions; can be decomposed chemically.

Organic Compound

A compound that contains carbon.

Inorganic Compound

A compound that does not contain carbon.

Acid

A substance that donates H⁺ in solution; turns blue litmus red and tastes sour.

Base

A substance that donates OH⁻ in solution; turns red litmus blue and tastes bitter.

Salt

A compound produced from acid–base reactions, shows no litmus change, and tastes salty.

Covalent Compound

A compound whose constituent elements are bonded by sharing electrons.

Ionic (Electrovalent) Compound

A compound whose constituent elements are bonded by transfer of electrons.

Electrolyte

A compound whose aqueous solution or molten state conducts electricity.

Non-electrolyte

A compound whose solution does not conduct electricity.

Mixture

A combination of two or more elements and/or compounds that retain their individual chemical identities.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with components evenly distributed so they cannot be distinguished visually.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture with components unevenly distributed and visibly distinguishable.

Solid

State of matter with tightly packed particles; definite shape and volume.

Liquid

State of matter with closely packed particles that can slide past one another; indefinite shape but definite volume.

Gas

State of matter with widely spaced particles moving freely; indefinite shape and volume.

Plasma

Ionized gas containing free ions and electrons; conducts electricity and was discovered by William Crookes in 1879.

Kinetic Theory of Matter

Theory stating that matter is made of particles in continual random motion.

Physical Property

An inherent characteristic that can be observed without changing substance composition.

Extensive (Extrinsic) Property

A physical property that depends on the amount of material (e.g., mass, volume, length).

Intensive (Intrinsic) Property

A physical property that depends on the kind of material, not amount (e.g., density, melting point).

Chemical Property

The ability of a substance to form new substances by reaction or decomposition.

Physical Change

A change in physical properties or state that does not alter composition.

Chemical Change

A change resulting in the formation of substances with new properties and composition; a chemical reaction.

Filtration

Separation method that passes a mixture through a porous material to separate a solid from a fluid.

Magnetism (Separation)

Technique that uses a magnet to remove magnetic materials (e.g., iron) from a mixture.

Hand Separation

Manual removal of visibly different components from a mixture.

Decantation

Separation by allowing solids to settle or immiscible liquids to separate, then carefully pouring off the top layer.

Sifting (Sieving)

Separation of dry mixtures based on particle size using a sieve.

Evaporation (Separation)

Removal of a liquid from a solution by vaporization, leaving the dissolved solid behind.

Chromatography

Technique that separates dissolved substances based on how they travel across or through a medium.

Crystallization

Process that forms pure solid particles from a solution as the solvent evaporates.

Centrifuging

Separation using rapid rotation to segregate components of different densities.

Distillation

Separation of components in a homogeneous mixture based on differences in boiling points.