Matter is anything that has and takes up

Matter is the Stuff Around You

What is matter? Matter is everything around you. Atoms and compounds are all made of very small parts of matter. Those atoms go on to build the things you see and touch every day. Matter is defined as anything that has mass and takes up space (it has volume).

What is mass? Mass is the amount of matter in an object. You might have a small object with a lot of mass such as a statue made of lead (Pb). You might have a large object with very little mass such as a balloon filled with helium (He). You should also know there is a difference between mass and weight. Mass is a measure of the matter in an object while weight is a measure of gravity’s pull on an object.

What is volume? Volume is the amount of space something occupies. Words such as big, little, long, or short are used to describe volumes. A marble takes up a small volume while a star occupies a large volume. Different states of matter will fill volumes in different ways.

Even though matter can be found all over the Universe, you will only find it in a few forms (states) on Earth. We cover five states of matter on the site. Each of those states is sometimes called a phase. There are many other states of matter that exist in extreme environments. Scientists will probably discover more states of matter as we continue to explore the Universe.

Five States of Matter

What are the main states of matter? Everyone should know about solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas. Scientists have always known about solids, liquids, and gases. Plasma was a new idea when it was identified by William Crookes in 1879. We also like to talk about the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). It’s a fun state of matter when you remove almost all energy from a system. The scientists (Cornell, Ketterle, and Wieman) who worked with the Bose-Einstein condensate received a Nobel Prize for their work in 2001.

What makes a state of matter? It's all about the physical state and energy in the atoms and molecules. Think about solids. Physical properties of a solid often include "hard" and "brittle." Liquids are fluidy, move around a little, and fill up containers. Gases are always around you, but the molecules of a gas are much farther apart than the molecules in a liquid. If a gas has an odor, you’ll often be able to smell it before you can see it. The BEC is all about atoms that are closer and less energetic than atoms in a solid.

Changing States of Matter

What is a physical change in matter? Molecules can move from one physical state to another (phase change) and not change their atomic structure. Oxygen (O2) gas has the same chemical properties as liquid oxygen. The liquid state is colder and denser (less energy), but the molecules are the same. Water (H2O) is another example. A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. It has the same molecular structure whether it is a gas, liquid, or solid. Although its physical state may change because of different amounts of energy, its atomic structure remains the same.

So what is a chemical change in matter? Let's start with that glass of pure water. If the formula of water were to change, that would be a chemical change. If you could add a second oxygen atom to a water (H2O) molecule, you would have hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The molecules would not be "water" anymore. In reality, there are a variety of steps that go into creating hydrogen peroxide from water.

Physical changes are related to changes in the immediate environment such as temperature, pressure, and other physical forces. Chemical changes occur when the bonds between atoms in a compound are created or destroyed. Generally, the basic chemical structure does not change when there is a physical change. Of course, in extreme environments such as the Sun, no molecule is safe from destruction.

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Alien Matter in the Solar System (NASA Video)

Presentation on theme: "What is matter??? Matter is anything that takes up space!!!"— Presentation transcript:

1 What is matter??? Matter is anything that takes up space!!!
What are the three states of matter??? The three states of matter are solids, liquids, and gases! (A fourth state is Plasma but you’ll learn about that later)

2 Three Main Phases – page 41

3 Solid Solids have three main properties: It has a definite shape.
It has a definite mass. It has a definite volume. An apple is a solid This means that a solid will always look the same, take up the same amount of space, and have the same amout of molecules in

4 Solid Solids hold their shape.
Ice and snow are examples of water in the solid state.

5 Copper Phases - Solid

6 Liquid Liquids have three main properties:
It does not have a definite shape. It has a definite mass. It has a definite volume. Water is a liquid This means that liquids will always take up the same amount of space and have the same amount of molecules in it. However, because it does not have a definite shape, it takes the shape of its container.

7 Copper Phases - Liquid

8 Gas Gases have three main properties:
It does not have a definite shape. It does not have a definite mass. It does not have a definite volume. Air is a gas This means that a gas does not always take up the same amount of space, nor does it weigh the same all the time. Like liquids, gases take the shape of their containers. However, they will fill the space they are given. That is why they don't always take up the same amount of space!! The sun (made up of many gases), smoke from fire, and water vapor in clouds are all gases too. Can you think of more?

9 Copper Phases – Vapor (gas)

10 4th state: Plasma - formed at high temperatures; ionized phase of matter as found in the sun

11 On earth we live upon an island of "ordinary" matter
On earth we live upon an island of "ordinary" matter. The different states of matter generally found on earth are solid, liquid, and gas. We have learned to work, play, and rest using these familiar states of matter. Sir William Crookes, an English physicist, identified a fourth state of matter, now called plasma, in 1879.

12 Condense Freeze Melt Evaporate Solid Liquid Gas

13 Physical vs. Chemical Change
Physical change will change the visible appearance, without changing the composition of the material. Boil, melt, cut, bend, split, crack Is boiled water still water? Can be reversible, or irreversible Chemical change - a change where a new form of matter is formed. Rust, burn, decompose, ferment

14 Chemical Change A change in which one or more substances are converted into different substances. Heat and light are often evidence of a chemical change.

15 Recognizing Chemical Changes
Energy is absorbed or released (temperature changes hotter or colder) Color changes Gas production (bubbling, fizzing, or odor change; smoke) formation of a precipitate - a solid that separates from solution (won’t dissolve) Irreversibility - not easily reversed But, there are examples of these that are not chemical – boiling water bubbles, etc.

Is there anything that has matter and takes up space?

Does matter take up?

Is there anything that has mass and takes?

What is the best definition of matter?