States of Matter
The physical forms of matter, which include solid, liquid and gas.
Solid
The state of matter in which the volume and shape of a substance are fixed.
Liquid
The state of matter that has a definite volume but not a definite shape.
Gas
A form of matter that does not have a definite volume or shape.
Surface Tension
The force that acts on the surface of a liquid and that tends to minimize the area of the surface.
Viscosity
The resistance of a gas or liquid to flow.
Atom
The smallest unit of an element that maintains the properties of that element.
Crystalline
A type of solid that has a very orderly, three-dimensional arrangement of particles. They have a repeating pattern in rows.
Amorphous
A type of solid that is made up of particles that do not have a special arrangement.
Temperature
A measure of how hot or cold something is; specifically, a measure of the movement of particles.
Volume
A measure of the size of a body or region in three-dimensional space.
Pressure
The amount of force exerted per unit area of a surface.
Boyle's Law
The law that states that the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure of a gas when temperature is constant.
Charles's Law
The law that states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the temperature of a gas when pressure is constant.
Change of state
The change of a substance from one physical state to another.
Boiling
The change of a liquid to a vapor, or gas, throughout the liquid.
Vaporization
The change of a liquid or solid to a gas.
Melting
The change of state in which a solid becomes a liquid by adding energy.
Evaporation
The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas.
Condensation
The change of state from a gas to a liquid.
Freezing
The change of state from a liquid to a solid.
Endothermic
Energy is gained by the substance as it changes state.
Exothermic
Energy is removed from the substance as it changes state.
Melting Point
The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid.
Freezing Point
The temperature at which a liquid changes in t a solid.
Sublimation
The process in which a solid changes directly into a gas.
Matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
Mass
A measure of the amount of natter in an object.
Volume
A measure of the size of a body or region in three-dimensional space.
V=l x w x h
The formula to find the volume of a cube or a rectangular object. Volume = length x width x height
Physical Properties
A characteristic of a substance that does not involve a chemical change, such as density, color, or hardness. It can be observed without changing the matter's identity.
State
The physical for in which a substance exists, such as a solid, liquid, or gas. Ice is water in the solid state.
Density
The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance.
Thermal Conductivity
The rate at which a substance transfers heat. Plastic foam is a poor conductor.
Solubility
The ability of a substance to dissolve in another substance. Flavored drink mix dissolves in water.
Ductility
The ability of a substance to be pulled into a wire. Copper is often used to make wiring because it is ductile.
Malleability
The ability of a substance to be rolled or pounded into thin sheets. Aluminum can be rolled into sheets to make foil.
Physical Change
A change of matter from one form to another without a change in chemical properties.
D = m/v
The formula to find an objects density.
Density = Mass/Volume
Characteristic Properties
The properties that are most useful in identifying a substance. They are always the same no matter what size the sample is.
Chemical Property
A property of matter that describes a substance's ability to participate in chemical reactions.
Flammability
The ability of a substance to burn.
Reactivity
The ability of two or more substances to combine and form one or more new substances.
Chemical Change
A change that occurs when one or more substances change into entirely new substances with different properties.
Fizzing
The escape of gas from a water like solution.
Composition
The type of matter that makes up the object and the way that the matter is arranged in the object.
Electrolysis
When water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen gases.
Odor Production
A sign that a chemical change is occurring or has occurred. The substance will produce a different smell.
Color Change
A sign that a chemical change is occurring or has occurred. The substance will change colors.
Molecules
The smallest unit of a substance that keeps all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance.