NAME: __________________________________
FOSS Science
Mixtures and Solutions
Vocabulary
Investigation 1
mixture – two or more materials together
matter – something that occupies space
liquid – state of matter that has mass, takes up space, has a definite volume, but has no definite
shape
solid – state of matter that takes up space, has a definite shape and volume
gas – state of matter that is colorless, takes up space, but does not have a definite volume or shape
property – characteristics of an object
solution – special mixture formed when a material dissolves in water
dissolving – process by which a solid material seems to disappear into a liquid
diatomaceous earth – skeletal remains of aquatic organisms, looks like powder
mass – a measure of the amount of matter in an object
evaporation – process of a liquid drying up; it turns into a gas and goes in to the air
crystal – solid form of a material that can be identified by its properties, such as shape, color, and
pattern
soluble – defines a material that dissolves
Investigation 2
solvent – the liquid part of a solution
solute – the matter that dissolves in a solution
saturated solution – when a solute dissolves in a solvent until no more will dissolve
particle – tiny piece of matter
Investigation 3
atom – the smallest particle of an element, all matter on earth is made of atoms
molecule – particles made of two or more atoms that are held together with bonds
compound – substance made of two or more different kinds of atoms
chemical reaction – process in which two or more substances combine to make one or more new
substances that have different properties than the original ones
reactant – the starting substance(s) in a chemical reaction
product – substance(s) produced in a chemical reaction
chemical formula – code that tells how many and what kind of atoms are in a substance
chemical equation – model of a chemical reaction showing reactants and products
Investigation 4
element – substance that cannot be broken down by simple chemical land physical processes
chemical property – characteristic that describes how a substance is changed when it reacts with
another substance
periodic table of elements – a way to organize the elements based on atomic number
metal – elements that may be shiny, stretch and bend, but don’t break, and conduct heat and
electricity well
alloy – a mixture of two or more metals