Matter Study Guide: (Test October 3rd)
Know these words:
Matter= anything that takes up space and has mass
Physical property= anything you can observe about an object
using your senses (examples: size, shape, color, texture)
o Physical properties are used to describe matter.
Senses= smell, sight, hearing, taste, and touch
Solid= takes up a specific amount of space and has a definite
shape.
Liquid= has a volume that stays the same, but it can change its
shape
Gas= does not have a definite shape or a definite volume
Volume= the amount of space matter takes up
Mass= the amount of matter in an object (All matter has mass,
including air)
Molecules= small particles that make up matter
Atoms= smallest parts of matter, make up molecules
Mixture= a substance that contains two or more different types
of matter, can be physically separated
o Examples of mixtures: trail mix, fruit salad, alphabet soup
Solution= a mixture of two or more substances that are evenly
mixed. They are harder to separate. For example, salt dissolves
in water. This means that the solid (salt) disappears when mixed
with the liquid (water). Salt water can be separated with
evaporation.
o Examples of solutions: sugar water, salt water, tea and
sugar, water and lemon juice
Physical changes= changes to matter in which no new kinds of
matter are formed
o Examples of physical changes: ripping paper, slicing
bread, water melting into ice
Chemical changes= matter changes into a different substance
o Examples of chemical changes: metal rusting, wood
burning, milk spoiling
Understand these ideas:
There are 3 states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. In solids,
atoms are tightly packed and move very little. In liquids, atoms
are more spread out and can move around. In gases, atoms
are very far apart and move very fast.
Heat can change matter. Matter can change from a solid to a
liquid, a liquid to a solid, a liquid to a gas, and a gas to a liquid.
o Example: Water (a liquid) can be heated until it becomes
steam or water vapor. Water can freeze and become a
solid when the temperature is lowered.
Melt= to change from a solid to a liquid
Freeze= to change from a liquid to a solid
Evaporation= to change from a liquid to a gas
Condense= to change from a gas to a liquid