Physical Science: Matter Test Topics
What is matter?
(What is mass? How do we measure mass? What unit(s) do we use for mass? What is volume? How do we
measure volume? What unit(s) do we use for volume?)
What is a pure substance?
(What are the two types of pure substances? What is an element? What are elements made of? How do we
write the shorthand for elements? Know the symbols for the elements in the table in your notes. What is a
compound? Know some examples. What are compounds made of? What are the differences between an
element and a compound?)
What is a mixture?
(What is a heterogeneous mixture? Know some examples. What is a homogeneous mixture? Know some
examples. What are the differences between a compound and a mixture? [Know the characteristics of both,
especially whether they have fixed or varying properties]
What are the specific types of mixtures?
(What is a solution? Know some examples. Can a solution…be filtered? Separate? Scatter light? What is a
suspension? Know some examples. What words do we see on a bottle that let us know it’s a suspension?
Can a suspension…be filtered? Separate? Scatter light? What is a colloid? Know some examples. Can a
colloid…be filtered? Separate? Scatter light? Explain the size of the particles of solutions, suspensions, and
colloids. What are some ways to separate mixtures? Two were specifically mentioned in the book)
What are physical properties?
(What is viscosity? How can viscosity be lowered? Know some example of liquids with a high viscosity and
some liquids with a low viscosity. What is conductivity? What is malleability? What materials are both
conductive and malleable? What is hardness? What is the hardest material we know of? What is melting
point? What is boiling point? What is density? Be able to calculate density, mass, or volume using the density
equation. What is the density of water?)
What is a physical change?
(How does a physical change differ from a chemical change? Give an example of a reversible physical change
and an irreversible physical change)
What are chemical properties?
(What is flammability? What is reactivity?)
What is a chemical change?
(How does a chemical change differ from a physical change? What are three ways to know if a chemical
change has occurred? What is a precipitate? What is a simple way to produce a precipitate? This is
mentioned in the book)