Investigating Matter

Chapter 1.2 (pp 16 – 23)

What is Matter?
 Matter is anything that has mass and volume.

o Mass is the amount of matter in a substance or object (usually measured in grams)

o Volume is the amount of space a substance or object occupies (measured in litres)

 Matter is made of elements, which are substances that contain only one type of matter

and cannot be broken down or separated in to simpler substances.

Describing Matter

 Physical Properties – characteristics of matter that are observed (qualitative) or measured (quantitative):

Physical Property Description

Whether it is solid, liquid or gas
State

Colour
Colour

Degree to which the material reflects light (i.e. how shiny it is)
Lustre

Ability to be bent into sheets

Malleability

Appearance and feel of the surface

Texture

Ability to conduct electricity or heat

Conductivity

Tendency to be attracted to a magnet

Magnetism
Ratio of a material’s mass to its volume (how much matter in a given
Density space

Temperature of melting/freezing
Melting Point

Temperature of boiling/condensing
Boiling Point

 Chemical Properties – observed when substances react with each other:

Chemical Property Description

Degree to which a substance combines chemically with other
Reactivity substances (water, acid, etc)

Degree to which a substance burns

Combustibility
Degree to which the substance reacts in the body to produce harmful
Toxicity substances