States of Matter Flashcards
Solid
State of matter that has a fixed shape and volume
Liquid
State of matter that has a fixed volume, but no fixed shape
Gas
State of matter with no fixed shape or volume
Properties
Characteristics or features of an object or substance
Volume
The amount of space taken up by an object or substance
Mass
The quantity of matter in an object (usually measured in grams or kilograms)
Fluid
A substance that flows and has no fixed shape. Gases and liquids are fluids.
Diffusion
The spreading of one substance through another due to the movement of their particles
Melting Point
The temperature at which a solid substance turns into a liquid (melts) or a liquid turns into a solid (freezes)
Boiling Point
The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas
Sublimation
The change in state from a solid into a gas (or from a gas into a solid) without first becoming a liquid
Precipitation
Falling water in solid or liquid form. The type of precipitation depends mostly on the temperature in the clouds and the air around them.
Meteorologist
Scientist who uses observation of the atmosphere to predict or explain the weather
Particle Model
A description of the moving particles that make up all matter and how they behave. The model explains the properties of solids, liquids and gases.
Expands
Increase in size due to the movement of particles in a substance
Contracts
Shorten or become smaller in size
Alchemists
Olden-day ‘chemist’ who mixed chemicals and tried to change ordinary metals into gold. Alchemists also tried to tell the future.
Investigations
Activity aimed at finding information
Observations
Information obtained by the use of our senses or measuring instruments
Scientists
People skilled in or working in the fields of science; scientists use experiments to find out about the material world around them
Elements
Pure substance made up of only one type of atom
Atoms
A very small particle that makes up all things. Atoms have the same properties as the objects they make up.
Atomic Number
Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. The atomic number determines which element an atom is.
Chemical Symbol
The standard way that scientists write the names of the elements, using either a capital letter or a capital followed by a lowercase letter. For example, carbon is C and copper is Cu.
Compounds
Substance made up of two or more different types of atoms that have been joined (bonded) together
Bonded
Force that holds particles of matter, such as atoms, together
Mixtures
A combination of substances in which each keeps its own properties
Hydrogen
The element with the smallest atom. By itself, it is a colourless gas and combines with other elements to form a large number of substances, including water. It is the most common element in living things.
Oxygen
A gas in the air (and water) that animals need to breathe in; made up of particles with two oxygen atoms. Plants produce oxygen as part of photosynthesis.
Metals
Elements that conduct heat and electricity; shiny solids that can be made into thin wires and sheets that bend easily. Mercury is the only liquid metal.
Non-Metals
Elements that do not conduct electricity or heat. They melt and turn into gases easily and are brittle and often coloured.
Metalloids
Elements that have the appearance of metals but not all the other properties of metals
Periodic Table
A table listing all known elements. The elements are grouped according to their properties and in order of the number of protons in their nucleus.
Group
In the periodic table of elements, a single vertical column of elements whith a similar nature
Inert
Not reactive
Noble Gas
Elements in the last column of the periodic table. They are extremely inert gases.
Molecules
Two or more atoms joined (bonded) together, forming a small particle
