Matter
• Matter is anything that has both mass and
volume.
• Matter has energy
• Matter is everything around you.
• Matter is everything you can touch, see,
feel or smell!
• Matter is in one of five physical forms –
solids, liquids, gasses, plasma or a BoseEinstein condensate (BEC)
Properties of Matter
Physical properties are able to be observed or measured without
changing the chemical make up of the matter. Chemical
properties cannot be observed without changing the chemical
make up of the matter.
Ductility,
Malleability,
Texture,
Adhesive,
Cohesive,
Thermally
Conductive,
Electrically
Conductive,
Surface
Tension,
Magnetic,
Hardness,
Solubility,
Volume,
Mass, pH,
Viscosity,
Boiling Point,
Melting Point,
Freezing
Point,
Condensation
Point,
Density,
Elasticity,
Luster
Adhesion- tendency of particles of different
substances to attract to one another. Glue adheres to
paper. Tape adheres to your skin. Water adheres to the
graduated cylinder. (Physical Property)
Boiling/Condensation Point- Boiling
Point is the temperature at which a liquid turns to gas.
Condensation Point is the temperature at which a gas turns
to a liquid (Physical Property)
Water boils at 100 degrees C. Water condenses at 100
degrees C. Gold boils and condenses at 2162 degrees
C. Each type of matter has its own unique boiling and
condensation point.
Substance
Helium
Oxygen
Mercury
Water
Lead
Gold
Melting/freezing
pt.
-272C
-218C
-39C
0C
327C
962ºC
Boiling/condensing
pt.
-269C
-183C
357C
100C
1749C
2162ºC
Brittleness-
The tendency of a solid to break or
shatter (Physical Property)
Glass and peanut brittle are brittle. Rubber and wax are not brittle.
Cohesion- The tendency of particles of the same
substance to attract one another.
(Physical Property)
Water particles are cohesive. They
stick together to form droplets. Mercury
particles are cohesive. They stick
together to form droplets.
Density- Mass per unit volume; the mass of a
known volume of matter; compactness (Physical Property)
Air and cotton have low densities. Granite and steel
have high densities. Objects that are less dense can
sit on top of objects that are more dense. The
billiards ball is less dense than the mercury it is
floating on.
Ductility- The ability to be stretched into wire—
this is a property of metals (Physical Property)
Copper can be drawn into a wire for wiring in a home. Gold & silver can be
stretched into a wire for jewelry. This does not apply to non-metals.
Elasticity- The tendency of a solid substance to return to
its original form after being stretched (Physical Property)
The rubber band, bungee
cord and latex in the balloons
all can be stretched but will
return to their original form
after being stretched.
Electrical Conductivity- The ability of
electricity to move through a material. (Physical Property)
Metals are usually electrically conductive and
non-metals are not electrically conductive.
Copper is highly electrically conductive – that is
why we use it in wires in lamps & other
electrical appliances.
Hardness-
Ability of solids to resist being
scratched . (Physical Property) Solids are rated against a
hardness scale called the Mohs Hardness Scale. “1” is
very soft and “10” is very hard. Diamonds are the hardest
natural substance.
Luster- The “shininess” of a substance.
The ability of
a substance to reflect light. (Physical Property)
• Usually metals, mirrors, some china and glassware have
luster. Matter with a matte or dull finish do not have
luster.
Magnetism- The ability to form a magnetic field
and attract other metals (Physical Property)
)
• Nickel, Cobalt and Iron are magnetic,
metal elements. The magnetic field can
attract or repel (push away). Like poles
(north to north) repel each other and
opposite poles (north to south) attract one
another.
Malleability- The ability to be pounded into flat
sheets—this is a property of metals (Physical Property)
Aluminum foil, gold leaf and
copper sheets are examples of
malleable metals.
Mass- The amount of matter that something is made of.
Measured in grams on a balance. (Physical Property)
A watermelon would have more mass than a feather.
Mass does not change with gravity – weight does.
Melting/Freezing point- Melting point is the temperature at which a
solid turns to liquid AND freezing point is the Temperature at which a liquid
turns to solid. (Physical Property)
Substance
Helium
Oxygen
Mercury
Water
Lead
Gold
Melting/freezing
pt.
-272C
-218C
-39C
0C
327C
962ºC
Boiling/condensing
pt.
-269C
-183C
357C
100C
1749C
2162ºC
Water freezes at 0 degrees C and melts at
0 degrees C. Gold freezes and metls at
962 degrees C. Each type of matter has its
own unique melting and freezing point.
Solubility- The ability to dissolve in another
substance—how well the substance dissolves.
(Physical Property)
Solids dissolve in liquids. Gasses
dissolve in liquids. Solids
dissolve in solids. Gasses
dissolve in gasses.
Can you figure out
what is dissolving in
what in each
picture?
States of Matter- The physical form in which a
substance exists, such as a solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.
(Physical Property)
H2O can exist as a solid
(ice), a liquid (water) or a
gas (steam). All matter
can exist as a solid, liquid
or gas given the correct
temperature
Plasma
Surface Tension- Tendency of liquid particles to
stick together, forming a “skin” (Physical Property)
Surface tension is why a leaf floats on water, a paper clip can lay on water or a
bug can walk on water.
Tensile Strength- a measure of how far
something will stretch or bend before it cracks or breaks
(Physical Property)
You want bridges to have a high tensile strength so
that they will not crack and fall. Paper towels have a
low tensile strength.
Texture- The smoothness or roughness of a
substance (Physical Property)
You can use words like smooth, rough, bumpy, soft, leathery, grainy or sandy to
describe the texture of an object.
Thermal Conductivity- The ability to
transfer thermal energy (heat) from one area to another.
(Physical Property)
Metals transfer heat quickly – that is why you
get cold sitting on a bleacher. The heat from
your body is transferred to the bleacher. Hot
pads stop the flow of heat. They are not good
thermal conductors.
Viscosity- A liquid’s resistance to flow (P.P)
The higher the viscosity the thicker the fluid. Syrup is more viscous than water.
Volume- The amount of space an object occupies
(Physical Property)
You can measure liquid volume, solid volume or the volume of a gas.
You can calculate volume through reading a graduated cylinder,
measuring cup, using water displacement or using a formula.
Ability to Burn (Flammability)- Ability of
a substance to support combustion (burn) (Chemical
Property)
Oxygen must be present for burning to occur. The by-products
of burning are carbon (ash/soot), water vapor and carbon
dioxide.
Ability to Rust- Ability of a metal (like iron) to bond
with oxygen (from air or water) to form a new substance.
(Chemical Property)
Iron and oxygen react chemically and form rust. Rust is
chemically different from either oxygen or iron.
Temperature Is a measure of
how hot or cold an object is. (Physical Property)
Absolute Zero is the point
when all particle motion
stops and represents the
lowest possible
temperature.
Temperature can
be measured in
Fahrenheit, Celsius
or Kelvin. We use
Celsius in school,
but Kelvin is the
official temperature
scale for scientists.
Thermometers are
used to measure
temperature.
Can you guess the POM?
• You find a nail covered in a red-brown crusty substance.
• Your water glass is filled to the top and a slight dome
forms above the edge of the glass.
• Lemonade mix distributes itself evenly in water.
• You drop a plate and it breaks.
• A gold coin shines in the sun.
• A post it note sticks to your textbook.
• A magnet from your vacation is on your refrigerator.
• The pitcher holds 2 liters of ice tea.
• A beach ball floats on the surface of the pool.