Matter Study Guide

Background on Matter:
Atoms- Building Blocks, the smallest
unit of an element
Molecules- a group of two or more
atoms that are joined chemically

What Is Matter:
Matter is anything that has mass and
takes up space
Matter is everything around you
Molecules and atoms are composed of
matter

States of Matter:
Solids, liquids, and gases
Also known as phases
Solids- hard and brittle, compact
molecule, vibrate against each other
Liquids- fluidy, fill containers,
Gases- molecules are far apart
Physical Change of Matter:
When molecules move from one phase
to another they are still the same
substance.
Things only move from one phase to
another by physical means. If energy
is added (like increasing the
temperature) or if energy is taken
away (like freezing something), you
have created a physical change.











CHEMISTRY TERM PHASE CHANGE
Fusion/Melting
Freezing
Vaporization/Boiling
Condensation
Sublimation
Deposition
Solid to Liquid
Liquid to Solid
Liquid to Gas
Gas to Liquid
Solid to Gas
Gas to Solid

Fun Fact:
Plasma (a state of matter) was a new
idea when it was identified by William
Crookes in 1879.