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Matter & Its Interactions Vocabulary

Terms in this set (77)

Atom
The smallest unit of matter that cannot be broken down by ordinary chemical reactions.
Boiling
The process by which a liquid turns into a gas at its boiling point.
Boiling Point
The temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas.
Celsius (C)
A temperature scale with the melting point of ice at 0 degrees and the boiling point of water at 100 degrees. The divisions on the Celsius scale are the same sizes as those on the Kelvin scale.
Characteristic Property
Chemical and physical properties that define attributes of a pure substance and are independent of the same amount. Characteristic properties can be used to identify pure substances.
Chemical Bond
A force of attraction that holds two atoms together.
Chemical Change
A change that occurs when one or more substances are changed into entirely new substances with different properties.
Chemical Energy
A form of potential energy that is stored in chemical bonds.
Chemical Property
A characteristic of a substance that requires a chemical reaction to observe.
Chemical Reaction
The process by which one or more substances undergo change to produce one or more different substances.
Chromatography
A technique that is used to separate a single substance from a mixture of many different substances if that substance has physical properties that are distinctly different from the other substances in the mixture.
Component
One substance that is part of a mixture.
Compound
Matter that can be broken down by a chemical reaction into its elements.
Condensation Point
The temperature at which a gas turns into a liquid.
Condense
The process by which a gas turns into a liquid.
Constraints
Limitations, or restrictions, as in the engineering design process. These may include cost, risk of danger, availability of materials, and more.
Contraction
A decrease in the volume of matter.
Controlled Experiment
A scientific investigation in which one variable (the independent variable) is changed and all others are controlled, or kept the same.
Criteria
Standards or specifications that must be met, as in the engineering design process.
Crystal
A solid that contains atoms arranged in an organized way.
Density
The mass of a substance that fills one unit of volume. It is usually measured in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3).
Dependent Variable
The variable in an experiment whose value is determined by the experiment. See also independent variable.
Diagram
A labeled drawing that explains or shows the parts of something. A diagram is a type of model.
Dissolve
The process during which a homogenous mixture forms. The particles of the dissolved substance (solute) spread evenly throughout the dissolving substance (solvent), so that they are no longer visible.
Distillation
A method of separating a liquid mixture through boiling and evaporation
Electrolysis
A chemical reaction that uses electricity to break substances apart.
Element
An atom that exists naturally in Earth that serves as a building block of all matter.
Evaporate
To change from a liquid to a gas at or below the boiling point.
Expansion
An increase in the volume of matter.
Fahrenheit (F)
A temperature scale with the melting point of ice at 32 degrees and the boiling point of water at 212 degrees.
Flammability
A chemical property describing whether or not a substance can combust.
Freezing
The change in state in which a liquid turns into a solid.
Freezing Point
The temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid.
Gas
A state (or phase) of matter in which a substance has no definite shape or volume.
Heat
A transfer of of thermal energy due to the temperature difference between two objects.
Heterogeneous Mixture
A mixture in which there is uneven mixing.
Homogeneous Mixture
A mixture in which all of the components are evenly mixed.
Independent Variable
The variable in an experiment that the experimenter purposefully changes in order to determine its effect.
Kelvin
A temperature scale with the lowest possible temperature at the zero point, which is called absolute zero. On the Kelvin scale, ice melts at 0K.
Kinetic Energy
Energy associated with moving objects.
Law (scientific)
A statement that describes a cause-and-effect relationship in the universe and is based upon repeated experimental observations.
Law of Conservation of Matter
In a closed system, matter is not created or destroyed during a chemical reaction or physical change.
Liquid
A state (or phase) of matter in which a substance has a definite volume but no definite shape. Liquids take the shape of the part of the container they occupy.
Mass
A measure of the amount of matter in an object. In the metric system, mass is measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g).
Matter
Substances that make up the universe. All matter has mass and volume.
Malleability
A physical property that describes the ability of a material to be shaped, flattened, or otherwise deformed without breaking.
Melting
The phase change in which a solid turns into a liquid.
Mixture
Matter in which two or more substances (elements or compounds) are mixed together without breaking or making new bonds between atoms.
Model
A tool scientists and engineers use to represent ideas or provide an explanation. Models may include diagrams, drawings, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, or computer simulations.
Molecule
Two or more atoms connected by a chemical bond.
Monomer
The small subunits that combine to make a large polymer.
Particle
A very small piece of matter. Particles include atoms and molecules.
Periodic Table
The arrangement of elements by characteristic properties.
Phase Change
The change of matter from one state to another, such as a solid, liquid, or gas.
Phase of Matter
Solids, liquids, and gases are three phases, or states, of matter.
Physical Property
All the characteristic properties of a substance that can be measured or observed without changing the type of matter.
Polymer
A large molecule made up of many smaller subunits (monomers).
Precipitate
A solid formed in a solution as a result of a chemical reaction.
Predict
To make an educated guess about the outcome of a situation.
Product
A substance, or substances, formed by a chemical reaction.
Prototype
A preliminary version of a design that can be used to evaluate how well that design meets its design criteria.
Pure Substance
A sample of matter that is not mixed with any other types of matter.
Reactant
A substance, or substances, present at the beginning of a chemical reaction that is changed into a new substance, or substances; one of the starting materials in a chemical reaction.
Separations
Techniques chemists use to purify atoms and molecules.
Solid
A phase (or state) of matter in which a substance has a definite shape and volume.
Solute
A substance that dissolves in another substance.
Solubility
Describes the amount of substance (the solute) that can dissolve in another (the solvent).
Solution
A type of homogeneous mixture formed when one substance (the solute) dissolves in another (the solvent).
Solvent
The substance in which another substance dissolves.
State of Matter
Phases of matter may also be called states of matter.
Sublimation
The process by which a solid turns directly into a gas, skipping the liquid phase.
Synthetic Compound
A compound that is produced in a laboratory or factory.
System
A group of objects that function together as one unit; also, the set of related objects under study or consideration.
Temperature
The measure of how hot an object is. Temperature is measured using a temperature scale.
Thermal Energy
A form of kinetic energy associated with molecules in motion.
Variable
Any factor that could affect the results of an experiment.
Volume
The amount of space occupied by a sample of matter. In the metric system, volume is measured in liters (L), mililiters (mL), cubic meters (m3) and cubic centimeters (cm3)
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