3A2 Properties and States of Matter Flashcards
Learn about the properties and phases of matter, and the differences between physical and chemical changes.
What is matter?
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
What are physical properties of matter?
Characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the chemical composition of the substance.
Give three examples of physical properties.
- Length
- Volume
- Mass
What tools can be used to determine physical properties?
- Visual observation
- A balance
- Ruler
- Other measurement tools
What are chemical properties of matter?
They describe how a substance interacts with other substances during a chemical reaction, changing its chemical composition.
What are some characteristics of physical properties of matter?
- Can be observed.
- Can be measured with a tool.
- Can change when a substance changes state.
- Have nothing to do with what type of matter interacts with another type.
What are some characteristics of chemical properties of matter?
- Happen at the atomic level.
- Occur when one substance reacts with another.
- Can’t always be observed.
- Are not easily measured with a tool.
Give three examples of chemical properties.
- Reactivity
- pH
- Corrosion
Is matter living or non-living?
Can be living or non-living.
It can be organic (containing carbon) or inorganic (no carbon present).
Essentially, everything is matter; from the tiniest insect to the largest tree.
What is the difference between physical and chemical changes in matter?
- Physical changes alter the form of a substance without changing its chemical identity.
- Chemical changes result in new substances being formed.
What are some examples of phase changes in matter?
- Melting
- Freezing
- Vaporization
- Condensation
- Sublimation
Why is color considered a physical property?
It is an observable characteristic that does not change the chemical composition of the substance.
Why is pH considered a chemical property?
Because it measures how a substance interacts with water to release H+ ions, changing its chemical composition.
How is density defined and calculated?
- Definition: it is how much mass of that substance is packed into a given volume.
- Formula: Density is the mass of a substance divided by its volume (Density = mass/volume).
Density is a physical property.
How does reactivity classify as a chemical property?
It describes how a substance interacts with another to form a new substance with a different chemical composition.
What is an example of a physical property that changes during a phase change?
The shape of water changes when an ice cube melts to form liquid water, but its chemical composition remains the same.
What is mass and how is it classified?
It is a measure of the amount of matter in a substance and classified as a physical property.
Mass is measurable using a balance and can be observed and recorded. This means that mass is a physical property, not a chemical property.
Describe corrosion as a chemical property.
It occurs when a metal reacts with oxygen, often leading to the degradation of the metal’s surface, such as rusting.
What are the five types of chemical reactions?
- Combustion
- Synthesis
- Decomposition
- Single replacement
- Double replacement
Give an example of corrosion.
- Rusting steel.
- Saltwater destroying bridge.
Explain why water is an exception to the general rule about density changes with state changes.
Water’s density decreases when it freezes because its V-shaped molecules trap air, making ice less dense than liquid water.
How many states of matter are there commonly found in the universe?
four
Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma.
What are the characteristics of a solid state of matter?
- Low energy
- High density
- A definite volume
- A definite shape
What are the characteristics of a liquid state of matter?
- Moderate energy
- Moderate density
- A definite volume
- No definite shape
What are the characteristics of a gas state of matter?
- High energy
- Low density
- No definite volume
- No definite shape
What are the characteristics of a plasma state of matter?
- Extremely high energy
- Low density
- No definite volume
- No definite shape
Give an example of plasma in the universe.
The Sun
How does plasma differ from gas?
It is a charged gas-like substance with high levels of free-floating electrons and positively charged ions, making it extremely hot and conductive.
Name an example of naturally occurring and man-made plasma on Earth?
- Naturally occuring: Lightning.
- Man-made: include the matter required for neon signs, fluorescent tube lights, and plasma televisions.
What is the process called when a solid changes to a liquid?
Melting.
What is the process called when a liquid changes to a gas?
Evaporation.
What is sublimation?
The process where a solid transitions directly to a gas.
What is the process of a gas changing to a liquid called?
Condensation.
What are amorphous solids?
A less common state of matter that is halfway between a solid and a liquid, like glass.
What is a supercritical fluid?
A state of matter that has properties of both a liquid and a gas.
What is deposition in the context of matter?
The process where a gas transitions directly to a solid.
What is Bose-Einstein condensate?
A rare state of matter where supercooled gases coalesce into a superatom.
What is ionization in the context of matter?
The process where a gas transitions to plasma by gaining enough energy to free electrons from atoms.
What is the triple point of a substance?
The condition where a substance can exist in solid, liquid, and gas states simultaneously, occurring at a specific equilibrium of temperature and pressure.
Describe the arrangement of atoms in a solid and give an example.
- Atoms packed closely together and vibrate in place.
- Examples: ice, wood, and cars.
Describe the arrangement of atoms in a liquid and give an example.
- Atoms that are loosely bonded, allowing fluid movement.
- Examples: water, juice, and paint.
How are atoms arranged in a gas state of matter?
- Atoms move quickly apart with no defined shape or volume, making gases compressible.
- Examples: water vapor, oxygen, and helium.
What is a phase change in matter?
The transition of matter from one state to another, such as melting, freezing, vaporization, and condensation.
Describe the process of melting.
It is when a solid becomes a liquid due to an increase in temperature and energy.
What is vaporization?
The process of a liquid changing into a gas when energy is added.
What happens during the freezing process?
Liquid becomes a solid as its temperature is lowered.
Give an example of a physical change and a chemical change.
- Physical change: Melting ice cream or dissolving sugar in coffee.
- Chemical change: Burning a candle, which produces water and carbon dioxide, or rusting of iron.
What is the Law of Conservation of Matter?
It states that the amount of matter remains the same during physical or chemical changes.
Which of the states of matter are compressible?
Gases
Gases are compressible, as they have no definite shape or volume and can expand to fill a container.
Solids and liquids are not easily compressible due to their definite volume.
Why do gas bubbles rise to the surface in a liquid?
Gases have a lower density compared to liquids and solids.
