Everything around us whether in land, atmosphere,

and bodies of water are matter. It is made up of tiny

particles called atom. We see different forms of matter
because of their differences on how these tiny particles
are accordingly arranged. These variations in
arrangement result to differences in properties and
characteristics of many substances. This unit will help
you deeply understand matter, its nature, properties,
MATTER AND ITS classification, and changes in molecular perspective.

-Mary Ann Galo

General Chemistry 1 Instructor

PROPERTIES
Lesson 1: Particulate Nature of Matter
Lesson 2: States of Matter
Lesson 3: Properties of Matter
Lesson 4: Classification of Matter
Lesson 5: Changes in Matter
Lesson 6: Physical Methods of Separating
Mixtures
 UNIT 1
Module MATTER and ITS PROPERTIES
1

Overview
In your Junior High School, you have been continuing your exploration of several chemical
principles that will help you in this course. You have already learned something about chemical and physical
properties, as well as the states of matter. For example, water, ice, and steam are all words that can be
used to describe water, depending on the circumstances. Also, you have gone into identifying properties
of the three states of matter based on the arrangement of molecules. In this lesson, you will take things a
step further and describe some properties of solids, liquids, and gases. Learning more about the properties
of matter can help us to identify unknown substances and use them appropriately.

Learning Objectives:

After going through with this Learning Material, you are expected to;
1. recognize that substances are made up of smaller particles;
2. describe the properties of solids, liquids, and gases based on the arrangement, relative spacing, and
relative motion of the particles in each of the three states of matter.
3. Differentiate physical and chemical properties of matter
4. Differentiate physical and chemical changes
5. Describe various simple separation techniques
6. Use properties of matter to identify substances and to separate them

5 hours

Unlocking of Terms

Boiling Is the change from liquid to a gas or vapor.

Condensation Is the change from gas to a liquid.
Chromatography Is the most sensitive techniques that can be used for identifying and separating
components or mixture.
Evaporation Is the change of a liquid into gas without boiling.
Fractional distillation This is to separate two or more liquids that are mixed or separating two
miscible liquids.
Freezing Is the change from liquid to solid.
Heterogeneous Is a mixture of more than one phase that can be observed in the system.
Homogeneous Is a mixture of only one phase that can be observed in the mixture.
Matter Is anything that occupies space and has mass.
Melting Is the change from solid to liquid.
Miscible Two liquids that combine in any ratio to form a homogeneous solution.
Residue Is the trapped solid particles in the filter.
Saturated solution Is a solution that cannot dissolve anymore solute at a given temperature.
Simple distillation This is to collect the pure liquid from a solution.
Sublimation Is the change from solid directly to gas without going through the liquid state.
 Pre-assessment: Complete the task before proceeding to Lessons.

CONCEPT IN A BOX. Fill in each box with the appropriate word/s to complete the concept on Matter.
Use the words listed in the box below.

Simple Distillation Compound Physical Solid Homogeneous

Melting Point Exothermic Properties Solution Metal
Liquid Centrifugation Extensive Flammability Gas
Chemical Classification Crystallization Density Evaporation
Malleability Deposition Volume Acid Chromatography
Mixture Color Suspension Nonmetal Filtration
Length Fractional Distillation Hardness Oxidizability Shape
Sublimation Odor Colloids Melting Condensation
Taste Inorganic Metalloid Salt Boiling Point

Lesson 1: THE PARTICULATE NATURE OF MATTER

The development of the theory that matter is made up of particles traces back to the era of the
ancient philosophers, who begun to question the beginning of the world. The way how each ancient
philosopher viewed these tiny particles of matter is summarized in the table below:

EARLY PHILOSOPHERS THEIR IDEAS ON FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLES OF MATTER

Thales of Miletus Said that all things came from water and the earth itself floats on it. For
him WATER is the primary element.
Anaximenes Chose AIR as the primary element. Said that all other things could be
created in the process of air thickening (while cooling down), and the
process of air rarefying (during warming it up). For example, fire is created
by air rarefying but winds, clouds, water, earth and other solid substances
are created by air thickening.
Heraclitus Thought that fire is the primary element. His conclusion was that fire could
change into all other elements and substances while coming through the
universe from its top to bottom. Fire changed into air, air into water, and
water into earth.
 Xenophanes His theory is based upon the interplay of two substances, earth and water.
“All things that come into being and grow are earth and water.
Empedocles Proposed that all matter is made of four fundamental elements – earth,
air, water, and fire.
Leucippus and Conceived the idea of indivisible units called atoms. They believed that
Democritus (student matter is consists of particles called atomos (which means indivisible or
of Leucippus) indestructible) and that the infinite variety of observable things could be
explained by the combination of different sizes and shapes of these
particles.
Aristotle Rejected the idea of atomism of matter. He believed that there is no limit
to subdividing matter. Dividing matter in small bits can go on infinitely with
each piece getting smaller and smaller.

The issue about the early theories of matter was that they merely based on logic and that no
methods of experimentation and instrumentation were used to prove or disprove their claims. The ideas
of atom raised from the logical thinking of the early philosophers have found relevance, even others have
contradictions with what modern knowledge has today, for it became the bases of modern studies on atom.
As experimental and scientific methods begun to developed and flourished, scientists have come
to agreed that atom is made of a tiny indivisible particle called atom. This indivisibility idea of atom started
as modern scientists discovered the existence of subatomic particles such as electron, proton and neutron.
In 40 years, scientists were able to characterized the subatomic particles which stirred the growth of new
fields of science and technology that continue to progress up to the present.

Learning Activity 1: Padlet Activity:

Lesson 2: THE STATES OF MATTER

Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. They can be solid, liquid, and gas. These states of
matter can be distinguished from each other because of the differences in their physical properties. The
differences depend on the forces of attraction between particles. How are particles arranged?

..\Videos\The arrangement of particles in Matter.mp4

..\Videos\Particulate nature of matter.mp4
 Learning Activity 2:

Complete the table below with the necessary information to differentiate the three states of matter in
terms of their properties.

Properties Solid Liquid Gas

Arrangement of particles/molecules
Motion/movement of particles
Attractive forces
Compressibility
Interaction between particles
Density
Volume
Shape

Questions:
1. What account/s for the difference/s in the properties of the three states of matter? Support tour
answer
2. Give example for each state of matter and differentiate the three substances based on three
properties.

Lesson 3: PROPERTIES OF MATTER

All matter can be described through their physical and chemical properties

Physical Properties
Physical properties are properties of matter perceived by our senses. They can be observed,
measured, and tested without changing the composition of the substance. For example, the density of
water at 25OC is 1.00 g/ml, regardless of it amount, whether the same volume of water is placed in different
container, the density is still as 1 g/ml.
Physical properties can either be:
Intensive Properties
- are physical properties that do not depend on the amount of matter present or being
measured. If there is a change in the amount or quantity of the substance, these properties
remain the same. Color, hardness, malleability, boiling/melting point, taste, density, solubility,
conductivity, ductility, flexibility are examples of intensive property

Extensive Properties
- are properties that depend on the amount of substance present or being tested. If there is a
change in the amount of substance, these properties change too. Mass, length, shape, size,
volume is considered extensive property.

Chemical Properties
Chemical properties are those properties that are observed in regard to whether or not a substance
reacts with other substances. These properties are involved in the transformation of substance into another
materials which possess a completely different structure and composition from the original. For example,
iron rusts in moist air, nitrogen does not burn, gold does not rust, sodium reacts with water, and water can
be decomposed by an electric current.
Chemical properties are related to the kind of chemical changes that substances undergo during
chemical reactions. Some examples of these properties are reactivity, flammability, biodegradability,
combustibility and oxidizability.
 Learning Activity 3:

A. Identify whether the following illustrates physical (Extensive or Intensive) or chemical property and
indicate the specific property exhibited in each situation.
1. Boiling water 8. Digesting of food
2. Chopping a carrot into tiny pieces 9. Dissolving of salt in water
3. Blue food color was put in a soft drink 10. Ripening of bananas
4. Hammering a galvanized roof 11. Stretching a copper wire
5. Cooking food 12. Bending a metal rod
6. Lengthening hair 13. Burning of gasoline
7. Crumpling of paper 14. Composting of organic waste

B. What do you think is more helpful in identifying an object’s identity: physical properties or chemical
properties? Explain.

Lesson 4: CHANGES IN MATTER

Physical Change
In general, physical changes alter the physical properties of matter, but the composition remains constant.
A change in state is considered as a physical change. Some examples are breaking glass, cutting wood,
melting ice and magnetizing a piece of metal. In some cases, the process that caused the change can be easily
reversed and the substance regains its original form.

Video on Physical Change:

..\Videos\Physical change.mp4
Physical Process Involved in Phase Change (Change in State of Matter)
1. Melting is the change from solid to liquid. When solid is heated, its particles get more energy and
vibrate more. This makes the solid expand. At the melting point, the particles vibrate so much that
they break away from their positions. The solid turns liquid.

2. Boiling is the change from liquid to a gas or vapor. When liquid is heated, its particles get more
energy and move faster. They bump into each other more often, and bounce further apart. This
makes liquid expand. At the boiling point, the particles get enough energy to overcome the forces
between them. They break away to form gas.

3. Freezing is the change from liquid to solid If a liquid is cooled its particles lose kinetic energy. This
makes them move more slowly. If the liquid is cooled down enough each particle stops moving and
vibrates about a fixed point. When this happens the liquid frozen and turns into a solid
 4. Evaporation is the change of a liquid into gas without boiling. The particle in a liquid has different
amounts of energy. Some have less kinetic energy than others and move more slowly than them.
Others have more kinetic energy and move quickly. At the surface of the liquid the particles with the
largest amount of kinetic energy move so fast that they can pull away from the force of attraction
that exists between them and other liquid particles and escape into the air as vapor. If a liquid is
warmed the energy of all particles is increased and more particles acquire enough energy to escape
from the surface. This increases the rate of evaporation. This is the opposite o condensation.

5. Condensation is the change from gas to a liquid. When a gas is cooled sufficiently, it changes into
liquid. This is the reverse of boiling. Heat energy is given out during condensation. As the
temperature drops, the gas particles lose energy and move more slowly. Eventually, the movement
of the particles becomes slow enough for the gas to change into a liquid.

6. Sublimation is the change from solid directly to gas without going through the liquid state.
It occurs because particles at the surface of the solid have enough energy to break away from the
solid and escape as a gas. Iodine and ammonium chloride are two other examples of solids that
sublime.

Videos on Phase Change:

..\Videos\Melting, Freezing, Evaporation, Condensation, Sublimation.mp4
..\Videos\Sublimation and Deposition of Iodine.mp4

Chemical changes
Chemical changes are changes in the composition and structure of a substance. They are always
accompanied by energy changes. A chemical reaction occurs as matter undergo chemical change.

Video on Evidences of Chemical Change:

..\Videos\evidences of chemical change.mp4
 Learning Activity 4:

1. Decide whether each item describes a physical change or a chemical change. Write P to indicate a
physical change or C to indicate a chemical change in the spaces provided.
____________________ 1. melting wax ___________________ 6. evaporating water
____________________ 2. tarnishing of silver ___________________ 7. mixing flour and salt
____________________ 3. rusting of a nail ___________________8. Painting wall
____________________ 4. breaking an egg ___________________9. Switching on a light bulb
____________________ 5. burning of oil ___________________ 10. cutting wood into
ten pieces
2. Physical properties can be observed without changing the makeup of a substance. Chemical
properties describe how a substance will react during a chemical change. Decide whether each
example below describes a physical or chemical change by indicating evidences/proof on the
corresponding column.
Example Physical Change Chemical Change
1. Reacts with acid to release
hydrogen gas
2. A wood was cut into cubes
3. A yellow solid particles
appears as substance X was
added
4. Burns in the presence of
oxygen
5. A matchstick was lighted
6. Water freezes at 0ºC
7. Grinding beef for burger
patties
8. Spoiling of food
9. Bleaching agent added to
stained clothes
10. Water boils at 100OC

Using a diagram for Phase Change indicate the process involved in each change in state and identify
which process absorbs (endothermic) or releases (exothermic) heat.

Lesson 5: CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER

There are two ways by which matter can be classified. One is to classify it according to physical state: solid,
liquid, or gas. Another is to classify according to its composition: Pure substance or a Mixture.

Pure Substance
A pure substance has no particles of any other substance mixed with it. In real life, very few substances are
100% pure. For example tap water contains small amount of many different particles.
Look at the example below.
How can you tell if a substance is pure?
Chemists use complex methods to check purity. There is one simple method you can use to check the purity
of a substance, using their melting and boiling points.
✓ A pure substance has definite, sharp, melting and boiling points.
✓ When substance contains an impurity. Its melting point falls and its boiling points rise.

Types of Pure substance

Elements
Are said to be the building blocks of matter. It cannot be broken down into simpler substances imply
because it is the simplest form of matter. To date, there are about 118 elements. Most of these elements
are naturally occurring and only a small percentage of elements are man-made. But with the advent of
new technology, more and more elements are being synthesized inside the laboratory. The periodic
table of elements gives us various information about metallic, metalloid, and nonmetallic elements.

Compounds
Does the combination of an element plus an element always result to a compound? No, it doesn’t!
Why? If two metals are just physically combined, it will result to the formation of an alloy. Alloy is not a
compound; it is just a mixture because it is just a physical combination of two pure substances, in this
case - elements. So, how then do we describe a compound? A compound is a combination of elements.
This is right! But remember that a compound is a chemical combination of two or more elements. A
chemical combination results to a formation of a new substance. What does this mean? To elaborate,
let us take sodium chloride (NaCl) or table salt as our example. Table salt is made up of two elements
namely: sodium and chlorine. Sodium is a very reactive metal. Once you have placed even a pea-size of
this metal in water, a violent reaction occurs! On the other hand, chlorine exists as chlorine gas, which
is used as a warfare gas during the war. This implies that it is as well a “not-so-friendly” substance. But
when a chemical combination transpires between the two, it would result to the formation of a new
substance. And this new substance has a new set of characteristics that are quite different from the
characteristics of the elements comprising it….Can you name some characteristics of table salt that are
the same as the properties of the elements comprising it? Does salt violently react with water? Is it
toxic? Of course, if taken in excess, it would as well be bad for the health. But, table salt is part of our
everyday life since we always use it as a seasoning.
Compounds can be generally classified as acids, bases, or salts.

Mixtures
Mixture contains more than one substance. The substances are just mixed together, and not chemically
combined. Thus, it can be separated by a certain physical means
For example:
✓ Air is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and small amounts of amounts of other gases.
✓ Shampoo is a mixture of several chemicals and water.

Two types of Mixture

Homogeneous is mixture only one phase that can be observed in the mixture.

➢ Solution – is made up of two parts. The solute is the substance that is being
dissolved and solvent is the one that does the dissolving. Solvent is present in
greater amount than solute in a given solution. In some special case such as water,
it acts always as the solvent regardless of its amount.

Solution can be:

Solid solution – if the solvent is solid
Liquid solution – if the solvent is liquid, and
Gaseous Solution – if the solvent is gas
 Heterogeneous is a mixture of more than one phase that can be observed in the system.

➢ Suspension – is a heterogenous mixtures that have particles larger than those of

colloids. It contains undissolved solid particles which eventually settle after
interacting with solvent-like phase.
➢ Colloid – is also called colloidal dispersion, is a heterogenous mixtures that have
particles larger than those od solution but smaller than those of a suspension. A
colloid appears homogeneous but its particles are recognizable under a microscope.

Learning Activity 5:

A. Complete the following statements.

1. Substances that make up a _______________________________________ lose their original
properties.
2. A _______________________________________________________ can be separated by physical
means.
3. Iron sulfide contains the elements ________________________________________________ .
4. The elements that make up a _______________________________________ are chemically
combined.
5. Each substance in a mixture of iron and sulfur keeps its own ____________________________ .
6. A _______________________________________________ has a definite chemical composition.
7. Iron sulfide is an example of a ____________________________________________________ .
8. A _____________________________________________ has no definite chemical composition.
9. A ___________________________________________ can be separated only by chemical means.
10. __________________________ a mixture of iron filings and sulfur will make the iron and sulfur
atoms combine chemically.

B. Decide whether each statement is true for compounds and mixtures by writing either yes or no in the
spaces provided.
 Statement Pure Substance Mixture
Has a definite chemical composition
Can be separated by physical means
Made up of two or more substances
Elements that form it keep their own properties.
Elements are joined chemically.

C. Identify the kind of matter (Compound, Element, or Mixture) based on the information given in italics.
1. Substance D is added to water and a clear yellow liquid forms which transmits light focused through
it.
2. Heating substance G to 1000OC causes no change to it.
3. By physical means, substance I can be separated into its components.
4. By chemical means, substance H cannot be broken into simpler substances.

Lesson 6: PHYSICAL METHODS IN SEPARATING MIXTURES

As you have known earlier, components of mixtures are not chemically bound, thus the components can be
separated by physical means, their components can be separated through physical methods, which rely on
the differences in the physical properties of their components. Aside from simple laboratory techniques,
such as filtration, evaporation, and magnetism, techniques involving multistep separation, such as
extraction, distillation, centrifugation, and chromatography, can also be employed. The table below shows
some of the different techniques applicable to mixtures.

Separation Method Be Used for Separating…. Examples

Use of separatory funnel two immiscible liquids Kerosene and water
mixture
Extraction An immiscible solvent is added to a Red food color in a
mixture to extract or separate the mixture of two
solute (analyte) from any contaminant immiscible liquids
(methylene chloride and
water)
Simple distillation Two immiscible liquids with enough Separating acetone-
difference in boiling points (greater water mixture;
than 70OC); pure liquid substance from seawater
a solid-liquid mixture
Fractional distillation Mixture of two or more miscible liquids Separation of different
in which the difference in boiling points fractions of petroleum
are less than 20OC (less than 40OC or products; mixture of
around 248OC) toluene and carbon
tetrachloride
Evaporation Soluble solid from a liquid Separating salt from salt
solution
Filtration Insoluble solid from a liquid Water treatment in
plants
Centrifugation Insoluble smaller solids from a liquid Diagnostic for blood and
where normal filtration does not work urine test
Chromatography Components of different affinities or Food color/ink, drug
solubilities to mobile phase (solvent) components
and stationary phases (column, paper)
Magnetism Two solids with one part having Separating iron filings
magnetic properties and sand

Learning Activity 6:
A. Write true if the statement is true. If the statement is false, change the underlined
term to make the statement true. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
__________ 1. In the process of distillation, a liquid is heated until it condenses.
__________ 2. Drops of water on a bathroom mirror after a shower are an example of evaporation.
__________ 3. A solute can be separated out of a solution by evaporation.
__________ 4. When a solution is distilled, both the solvent and the solute can be recovered.
__________ 5. A substance changes from a gas to a liquid by evaporation.
__________ 6. The process of distillation begins and ends with a substance in liquid form.
__________ 7. The change of a liquid to a gas at the surface of the liquid is called condensation.
__________ 8. During distillation, gas moves through a tube called a condenser.
___________ 9. During the process of evaporation, molecules move through the air as a liquid.
___________ 10. Distillation involves the processes of evaporation and condensation.

B. Suggest a suitable method that can separate each of the following into its components. Answer can
be in a flow diagram or statement form.
1. Water and alcohol
2. sand and gravel
3. ink color component
4. seawater, sand and alcohol