States of matter glossary

Question 1

boiling

Answer 1

The change of state from liquid to gas that occurs when bubbles of the substance in its gas state form throughout the liquid.

Question 2

boiling point

Answer 2

The temperature at which a substance boils.

Question 3

change of state

Answer 3

The process by which a substance changes from one state to another.

Question 4

concentration

Answer 4

A measure of the number of particles of a substance in a given volume.

Question 5

condensing

Answer 5

The change of state from gas to liquid.

Question 6

conservation of mass

Answer 6

In a chemical reaction, the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products. This is conservation of mass. Mass is conserved in chemical reactions and in physical changes.

Question 7

Density

Answer 7

The mass per unit volume – how heavy something is for its size.

Question 8

diffusion

Answer 8

The movement of liquid or gas particles from a place of high concentration to a place of low concentration.

Question 9

evaporation

Answer 9

The change of state from liquid to gas that occurs when particles leave the surface of the liquid only. It can happen at any temperature.

Question 10

freezing

Answer 10

The change of state from liquid to solid.

Question 11

mass

Answer 11

The amount of matter a thing is made up of.

Question 12

melting

Answer 12

The change of state from solid to liquid.

Question 13

melting point

Answer 13

The temperature at which a substance melts.

Question 14

mixture

Answer 14

A material whose properties are not the same all the way through.

Question 15

particle

Answer 15

The tiny things that materials are made from.

Question 16

particle model

Answer 16

A way to describe the movement and arrangement of particles in a substance.

Question 17

property

Answer 17

A quality of a substance or material that describes its appearance or how it behaves.

Question 18

reversible

Answer 18

A chemical reaction or physical change that can be reversed (changed back).

Question 19

solid

Answer 19

In the solid state, a substance cannot be compressed and it cannot flow.

Question 20

states of matter

Answer 20

The three forms in which a substance can exist – solid, liquid, and gas.

Question 21

sublimation

Answer 21

The change of state from solid to gas.

Question 22

volume

Answer 22

The amount of space an object takes up.

Question 23

soluble

Answer 23

A substance that can dissolve in a certain solvent, often water, is soluble in that solvent.

Question 24

solute

Answer 24

The solid or gas that dissolves in a liquid.

Question 25

solution

Answer 25

A mixture of a liquid with a solid or a gas. All parts of the mixture are the same.

Question 26

solvent

Answer 26

The liquid in which a solid or gas dissolves.