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Classification of Matter

matter - physical material of the universe  

  • different compositions due to different arrangements of elements
  • atoms - smallest building blocks of matter
  • properties of matter change due to composition/structure of the atoms
  • molecule - 2+ atoms joined in a specific shape

states of matter - gas, liquid, or solid  

  • gas - aka vapor, has no definite shape/volume; molecules move at high speeds, often colliding w/ each other
  • liquid - definite volume, but no definite shape; molecules can slide over each other
  • solid - definite shape/volume, molecules held tightly together

pure substances - has distinct properties and doesn't vary from sample to sample  

  • either elements or compounds
  • elements - cannot be decomposed into simpler substances
    • oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium make up most of crust
    • oxygen, carbon, hydrogen makes up most of human body
    • similar elements grouped in the same column on the periodic table
  • compounds - combination of 2+ elements
    • law of constant composition (definite proportions) - composition of a pure compound is always proportionally the same
  • mixture - combination of 2+ substances; each substance keeps its characteristics
    • components - substances making up a mixture
    • homogeneous mixture (solution) - same throughout
    • heterogeneous mixture - not the same composition throughout

 

properties of matter - can be physical or chemical  

  • physical changes - can be measured w/o changing the composition of the substance (ex. odor, color, density, melting point, boiling point, hardness)
  • chemical properties - describes how the substance reacts w/ other substacnes (ex. flammability)
  • intensive property - doesn't depend on amount of substance available
  • extensive property - depends on the amount of substance available
  • physical change - substance retains composition but changes appearance
  • chemical change - substance changes to a chemically different substance

separation of mixtures - possible by using the components' different properties  

  • filtration - uses a filter to separate a mixture (usually water-solid mixture)
  • substances w/ lower boiling points are more volatile
  • distillation - boiling a solution to isolate the more volatile substance
  • chromatography - "writing of colors"; depends on ability of substances to adhere to surfaces of various solids

scientific method - guidelines for the practice of science  

  • starts w/ data collection
  • hypothesis - temporary explanation for something; can be disproved
  • scientific law - verbal/mathematical statement that summarizes lots of observations
  • theory - general hypothesis that can consistently predict results
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