Properties of Matter
Chapter 12
Matter
Matter Cont.
• Matter is anything that has mass and
takes up space. Everything you can see is
matter. Even things you cannot see, such
as air, are matter.
• There are three forms that matter usually
takes: solid, liquid, and gas. These forms
are called the States of Matter.
Atom
• The smallest particle
of matter that has all
the properties of that
matter is called an
atom.
Molecule
• A Molecule is a single
particle of matter that
is made up of two or
more atoms joined
together.
• Example: The
smallest particle of
water is a molecule
made up of three
atoms.
Physical Property
• A Physical property is a characteristic of matter
that can be observed without changing matter
into something new.
• State (gas, solid, liquid), size, shape, color, and
texture are some examples of physical
properties.
• For example, Watchung School is a large, red,
building.
• Large and red describe physical properties of
matter.
Physical Property
This picture shows different sizes, shapes and colors which are all physical properties
Chemical Property
• A chemical property is a characteristic of
matter that can be observed only when
matter is changed into a new kind of
matter.
• An example of a chemical property would
be after wood is burnt, the wood becomes
ash. Ash is a different kind of matter than
wood.
Chemical Property
Mass
• Mass is the amount of
matter in an object.
• Example: Although these
bricks are the same size,
color, shape, and texture,
the top brick feels heavier
because it has more
mass.
• The top brick has more
mass because it is a real
brick. The bottom brick
has less mass because it
is a foam brick.
Weight
• Weight is the
measure of the pull of
gravity on an object.
• Example: This spring
scale measures the
pull of gravity on the
bananas.
Density
• Density describes how
much matter is in a given
space, or volume.
• Think of one pound of
gold and one pound of
feathers. They contain
the same mass, but the
mass is more dense in
the gold, because its
volume is much smaller.