Matter Vocabulary

Matter

Anything made up of atoms

Element

A pure substance made of only one kind of atom; A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by chemical means

Compound

two or more elements that are chemically combined in a fixed ratio; can be decomposed by a chemical reaction

Mixture

two or more substances physically combined; matter that can be separated by physical means.

Substance

Refers to any matter that is pure and has a specific set of properties; elements or compounds

Homogeneous

matter that has constant composition throughout

Heterogeneous

matter that does not have constant composition throughout

diatomic molecule

a molecule that consists of two atoms of the same element

Solid

matter that has a definite shape and volume; matter that consists of particles arranged in a regular geometric pattern

Liquid

A state of matter that has no definite shape but has a definite volume.

Gas

A state of matter with no definite shape or volume

Molecule

two or more atoms bonded together