Properties of Matter
CLASSIFYING MATTER
What is Matter?
 Anything that has mass and takes up space.
Classifying Matter
 Pure Substances (Fixed Composition)
 Elements
Contains only one type of atom.
 Can’t be broken down into simpler substances.
 On the periodic table, elements are abbreviated with one capital
letter and zero to two lowercase letters.
 Sulfur – S
 Aluminum – Al
 Gold - Au
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Compounds
Contains more than one type of atom bonded together.
 Can be broken down into simpler substances.
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 Mixtures (Varying Composition)
 Homogeneous (difficult to distinguish the parts of the mixture)
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Solutions
 Ex: salt water, air, tap water
 Very tiny particles
Heterogeneous (can distinguish the parts of the mixture)
Suspension – separates into layers over time
 Ex: sand in water
 Large particles
 Colloid – particles will scatter light
 Ex: milk, Jello, fog
 Intermediate particles
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Physical Properties
 Any type of property that can be observed without
changing the composition (chemical make-up) of the
substance.
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Viscosity
Conductivity
Malleability
Hardness – how hard, or unscratchable, a material is.
Melting point
Boiling point
Density – mass per unit volume (how much mass is in a given
space)
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D = m/V
m = mass (g)
V = volume (cm3)
Separating Mixtures by Physical Properties
 Filtration – separating mixtures by particle size.
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Ex: separating rocks of different sizes
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Use a filter with holes that allow small rocks through but not large
rocks.
Does not work with mixtures with extremely small particles and/or
particles that are all the same size.
 Distillation – separating mixtures by differing boiling
points.
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Ex: salt water can be separated into salt and fresh water by:
Boiling the salt water (the water boils before the salt does)
 Catching the water vapor
 Cooling down (condensing) the water vapor back into liquid water in a
different container.
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Physical Changes
 Any change that does not affect the composition
(chemical make-up) of a substance.
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Ex: Freezing
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Ex: Boiling
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Water (H2O)  Ice (H2O)
Water (H2O)  Water Vapor (H2O)
NOT An Ex:
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Water (H2O)  Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2)
Chemical Properties
 Properties that can only be observed when a
substance is changing into another substance.
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Flammability – ability to burn in the presence of oxygen.
Reactivity – ability to react with another substance.
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Substances with high reactivity react easily with other substances.
Signs of a Chemical Change
 Change in color.
 Ex: copper changing reddish-brown to green.
 Gas production.
 Ex: carbon dioxide released when vinegar is added to baking
soda.
 Formation of a precipitate.
 Ex: formation of cottage cheese when acid is added to milk.
 Flame production.
 A definite sign of a combustion reaction!