Grade 9 Applied Science – Unit 2 Chemistry
Properties of Matter
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes matter undergoes.
Key Concepts

Physical Properties are characteristics that can be determined without changing the composition of a substance.

Chemical Properties describe the ability of a substance to change its composition to form new substances

Pure Substances has characteristic physical properties (e.g., Density of water is always 1.00g/mL at room temperature)

Water has very unusual characteristic physical properties (e.g., water has a high Heat Capacity (...it takes a lot of
energy to raise the temperature of 1gm of water 1°C. In other words, water changes temperature more slowly than
other compounds); many other compounds dissolve in water (...water is called the Universal Solvent); water is less
dense as a solid (i.e., ice) than as a liquid (...most substance contract when cool, but water expands...explains why ice
floats on top of liquid water)).

Physical and Chemical Properties can be used to identify different substances

Some common and useful substances have negative impacts on the environment.
Classifying Matter

Matter is anything that has MASS and VOLUME (i.e., takes up space).
Everything can be classified by asking TWO questions.
MATTER
Question 1. Is the substance made up of one type of particle (atom / molecule)?
YES
NO
MIXTURE
Question 2. Can you see more than one
substance? If liquid or gas, is it cloudy or
opaque?
PURE SUBSTANCE
Question 2. Is the substance made up of more than one
kind of element?
NO
ELEMENT
Homogeneous
YES
COMPOUND
Homogeneous
YES
NO
Heterogeneous
Mixture
Homogeneous
Mixture
MECHANICAL
MIXTURE
SOLUTION
Use the information above, to write a definition in your own words.
Table 1. Definitions of Matter
Type of Matter
Pure Substance
Element
Compound
Mixture
Mechanical Mixture
Solution
Definition