What is Matter?

Making a compact disc involves the changing of many raw materials. This is what chemistry is all about. Basically chemistry is what things are made of and how those things change. Everything that you use in your daily life, from glue, to soap, or a cheeseburger, you use because of what it is made of or how it changes.

With so many things in the world how things change and what they are made of can get really confusing. Chemistry makes it easy to understand the differences in all the materials of the earth and how all the stuff in the world relates to each other.

YOU WILL BE WORKING IN THIS ACTIVITY TO CREATE A SCIENCE VOCAB RESOURCE.

IN THE THIS ACTIVITY YOU WILL USE THE COMPUTER TO MAKE A RESOURCE FOR YOURSELF AND YOU PARTNER TO USE DURING CHEMISTRY. HOW YOU DO THIS WILL BE UP TO YOU HOWEVER SEVERAL RULES WILL APPLY.

FOR ALL THE ACTIVITIES BELOW BE SURE AND SUPPLY A WEB RESOURCE.

Find the definitions of these three words first:

MATTER

ELEMENT

ATOM

ACTIVITY ONE

Now that you have found the definitions to these first three words you are equipped to understand other concepts about matter in the science of chemistry. The understanding of matter builds on these three words. Lets, now look at how you see matter in your life. Scientists attempt to “categorize” matter so that we can understand qualities of it. Research the following words for their definitions.

COMPOUND

MOLECULES

CHEMICAL FORMULA

PURE SUBSTANCE

MIXTURE

HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURE

HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURE

Now that you have found the basic “categories” of matter. Compile a list of that is based on your life of matter that fits into each of the categories of: compound, substance, and mixture. ( 5 each)

Find a definition for the following words.

SOLID

LIQUID

GAS

Energy plays an important role in changing matter from one state to another. You can think of energy as the ability to change or move matter. Energy is transferred in all changes of state. Research a definition for the following words. Then figure out how energy is applied to change in matter.

EVAPORATION

CONDENSATION

SUBLIMATION

FREEZING

MELTING

Properties and Changes of Matter

The frame of a cars engine is made of steel. Steel is a mixture of iron and many other elements. Your car is made of many things from rubber in the tires to the gasoline that makes it go. However, all of the things (matter) that go into making your car have properties that describe them. Matter would also need to undergo many changes in order to become your car. Chemistry has ways of describing these properties and changes.

In chemistry the properties of matter are divided into two groups:

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Define the above words

Typically, a general idea of the basic physical properties of matter is important in chemistry.

The list below lists the most common physical properties of matter.

MELTING POINT

BOILING POINT

DENSITY

Define the above words

Chemical properties usually require some sort of test.

REACTIVITY

CONDUCTIVITY

FLAMMABILITY

Define the above words

The properties of matter help to define the use of whatever it might be that you are working with. But, in order for you to make new things with matter it must be able to change and become new things. Chemistry defines changes in matter in two groups.

CHEMICAL CHANGES

PHYSICAL CHANGES

Define the above words