Vocabulary Unit Test Mrs. Pags

Properties of Matter

Characteristics that allow us to identify and classify matter

Characteristic Property

A property that is always the same no matter what size the sample is

Physical Property

A characteristic that can be observed or measured WITHOUT changing the matter's identity
(Characteristic that can be observed without changing the make-up, or identity, of the matter)

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object

Volume

A measure of the amount of space an object takes up

Density

The amount of matter (mass) in a given space (volume)
The amount of matter in a given volume (mass per unit volume)

State

The physical form in which a substance exists, such as a solid, liquid, or gas

Luster

A description of how shiny an object is
Describes the way light is reflected from a mineral (i.e. metallic, glassy, or dull)

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in another substance

Solute

The substance that gets dissolved (solid)

Solvent

The substance that does the dissolving (liquid)
The liquid that the solute dissolves in

Solution

When the solute is dissolved in the solvent (liquid)
When solids, liquids, and gases dissolve in water and other liquids they form a solution

Thermal Conductivity

Describes the rate at which a substance transfers heat
A measure of the ability of a material to allow the flow of heat from its warmer surface through the material to its colder surface

Electrical Conductivity

Describes how well a substance allows electricity to flow through it
Measures how easily an electric charge can move through a material

Malleability

The ability of a substance to be rolled or pounded into thin sheets
The ability to be beaten into thin sheets without breaking
The ability to bend or flatten when squeezed; The ability to be pressed or pounded into a thin sheet

Plasticity

The ability of a material to change shape and stay that way. There are two different kinds of plasticity: malleability and ductility

Elasticity

The ability to be stretched and then shrink back/return to its original size and shape

Brittleness

The tendency to shatter into pieces when tapped with a hammer

Ductility

The ability of a substance to be pulled into a wire
The ability to be drawn into a fine wire
The ability to be pulled into a thin strand, like a wire

Viscosity

A measure of a liquid's resistance to flow

Texture

The feel or shape of the surface of an object: the smoothness, roughness, softness, etc.

Melting Point

The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid
The temperature at which a substance turns from a solid to a liquid. (The temperature remains constant until ALL of the substance turns into a liquid.)

Boiling Point

The temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a gas
The temperature at which a substance turns from a liquid to a gas. (The boiling point is determined by placing a sample amount of a substance into a container, adding heat, and then recor

Magnetism

The ability to attract iron or things made of iron

Physical Change

A change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance WITHOUT changing the identity of the substance
A change that alters the appearance of a substance without changing its composition
A change that happens when matter changes size, shape,

Change of Shape

Folding, bending, tearing, crushing, breaking, cutting, stretching, or any other change related to altering the shape of an object or substance

Weathering

A physical change caused by the effects of water and wind over time

Dissolving

When certain substances dissolve in other substances, a physical change takes place

Change of State

Changing the physical form in which a substance exists, such as changing from a solid to a liquid

Chemical Property

A characteristic that describes matter based on its ability to change into a new kind of matter with different properties
A characteristic that describes a substance's ability to participate in chemical reactions

Flammability

Capable of burning in the presence of oxygen
The ability of a substance to burn

Nonflammability

The inability of a substance to burn

Reactivity

The ability of two or more substances to combine and form one or more new substances with new and different properties

Chemical Change

Occurs when one or more substances are changed into entirely new substances that have new and different properties
A process that involves one or more substances changing into new substances (also referred to as a chemical reaction)
Occurs when the substa

Precipitate

A new solid that forms when two solutions are mixed