Introduction to Matter Flashcards
What is matter?
Matter is everything around us. Anything that you can see or touch is made up of matter, including humans, animals, plants, tables, chairs, and rocks.
What are atoms?
Atoms are the smallest building blocks of matter, similar to Lego blocks used to construct things. They combine in different ways to form different types of matter.
How can matter be classified?
Matter can be classified into pure substances (elements or compounds) and mixtures.
What is a pure compound?
A pure compound contains only one chemical species, with all the atoms being the same type of element or molecule.
Example: Pure water.
What is a mixture?
A mixture contains more than one type of chemical species.
Example: Tap water, which contains water and other substances like fluoride and chlorine.
What is a chemical species?
A chemical species is a specific type of atom or molecule. It can be an element or a compound, depending on whether it contains one or multiple types of atoms.
What is an element?
An element is a substance made up of only one type of atom.
Example: Copper (Cu).
How many elements are there currently?
There are 118 known elements, and they are listed on the periodic table.
What is a compound?
A compound is formed when two or more different atoms come together to create a new substance.
Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl), where sodium and chlorine atoms bond.
What is the difference between an element and a compound?
An element contains only one type of atom, while a compound contains two or more different atoms bonded together.
What is a molecule?
A molecule is a collection of atoms bonded together, forming a stable unit.
Example: Water (H₂O), which consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
What is an ionic compound?
An ionic compound is formed when oppositely charged ions, such as a positively charged sodium ion and a negatively charged chloride ion, bond due to electrostatic attraction.
What is the structure of a water molecule?
Water (H₂O) consists of one oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms in a bent shape, due to its covalent bonds.
What makes water unique in terms of its shape?
Water molecules have a bent shape, which gives water unique physical properties, such as its ability to dissolve many substances and its high boiling point.
What is a covalent bond?
A covalent bond is a type of bond where two atoms share electrons to form a molecule.
Example: The bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water.
What is a covalent bond?
A covalent bond is formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms, typically between non-metals.
Why do atoms form covalent bonds?
Atoms form covalent bonds because they want to fill their outer electron shells and achieve a more stable configuration by sharing electrons.
What types of atoms typically form covalent bonds?
Covalent bonds typically form between non-metals.
Can covalent bonds occur between atoms of the same element?
Yes, covalent bonds can form between atoms of the same element, such as two hydrogen atoms forming H₂ (hydrogen gas).
What is an ionic compound?
An ionic compound is formed when positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) attract each other, usually after one atom steals electrons from another.
What is the difference between covalent and ionic bonding?
In covalent bonding, electrons are shared between atoms, whereas in ionic bonding, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in charged ions.
What happens to sodium when it forms an ionic bond with chlorine?
Sodium loses one electron, becoming a positively charged ion (Na⁺), which then attracts a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl⁻) to form sodium chloride (NaCl).
What is a lattice structure in ionic compounds?
A lattice structure in ionic compounds is formed when cations and anions are arranged in a regular pattern, with each positive ion surrounded by negative ions and vice versa.
What are the three main states of matter?
The three main states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas.
How do the molecular arrangements differ between solids, liquids, and gases?
In solids, molecules are tightly packed in a structured arrangement. In liquids, molecules are close but can move and flow. In gases, molecules are far apart and move freely.
Why are solids incompressible?
Solids are incompressible because their molecules are already packed closely together with very little empty space between them.
What happens when you compress a liquid?
Liquids are also nearly incompressible because their molecules are close together, but they can flow and take the shape of their container.
Why are gases compressible?
Gases are compressible because their molecules are far apart, allowing them to be pushed closer together under pressure.
What is the difference between a pure substance and a mixture?
A pure substance contains only one type of element or compound, while a mixture contains two or more different substances.
What is a homogeneous mixture?
A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition throughout, where all components are evenly distributed.
What is a heterogeneous mixture?
A heterogeneous mixture has components that are not evenly distributed, and different parts of the mixture may contain different concentrations of substances.
What is an example of a homogeneous mixture?
Salt dissolved in water is an example of a homogeneous mixture, as the salt is evenly distributed throughout the solution.
What is an example of a heterogeneous mixture?
Orange juice with pulp is a heterogeneous mixture, as the pulp is not evenly distributed.
What are physical changes in matter?
Physical changes involve changes in the state or phase of matter (such as from solid to liquid to gas) without altering the chemical composition.
Can matter change phases without changing its chemical composition?
Yes, when water changes from ice to liquid to steam, it remains H₂O, but its physical state changes.
