Matter is everything around you. Atoms and molecules are all composed of matter. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. If you are new to the idea of mass, it is the amount of stuff in an object. We talk about the difference between mass and weight in another section. Matter is sometimes related to light and electromagnetic radiation. 

Even though matter can be found all over the Universe, you will only find it in a few forms 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 as we continue to explore the Universe. 

Five States of Matter

You should know about solids, liquids, gases, plasmas, and one state called the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Scientists have always known about solids, liquids, and gases. Plasma was a new idea when it was identified by William Crookes in 1879. The scientists who worked with the Bose-Einstein condensate received a Nobel Prize for their work in 1995. 

What makes a state of matter? It's about the physical state of the molecules and atoms. Think about solids. They are often hard and brittle. Liquids are fluidy, can 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 be able to smell it before you can see it. The BEC is all about atoms that are even closer and less energetic than atoms in a solid. 

Changing States of Matter

Molecules can move from one physical state to another and not change their basic

structure. Oxygen (O2) as a gas has the same chemical properties as liquid oxygen. The

liquid state is colder and denser, but the molecules (the basic parts) are still 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, its chemical state remains the same. 

Chemical changes occur when the bonds between atoms in a molecule are created or

destroyed. Changes in the physical state are related to changes in the environment such as

temperature, pressure, and other physical forces. 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. 

Physical Properties and Changes

Physical Property: A physical property is one that is displayed without any change in composition. (Intensive or Extensive)

Intensive properties: A physical property that will be the same regardless of the amount of matter.  

density: ρ=mv color: The pigment or shade  conductivity: electricity to flow through the substance malleability: if a substance can be flattened luster: how shiny the substance looks 

Extensive Properties: A physical property that will change if the amount of matter changes.

mass: how much matter in the sample volume: How much space the sample takes up length: How long the sample is 

Physical Change

Change in which the matter's physical appearance is altered, but composition remains unchanged. (Change in state of matter)

Three main states of matter are: Solid, Liquid, Gas

Solid is distinguished by a fixed structure. Its shape and volume do not change. In a solid, atoms are tightly packed together in a fixed arrangement.

Liquid is distinguished by its malleable shape (is able to form into the shape of its container), but constant volume. In a liquid, atoms are close together but not in a fixed arrangement.

Gas is made up of atoms that are separate. However, unlike solid & liquid, a gas has no fixed shape and volume.Example 1: Physical Change

When liquid water (H2O) freezes into a solid state (ice), it appears changed; However, this change is only physical as the the composition of the constituent molecules is the same: 11.19% hydrogen  and 88.81% oxygen by mass.

Figure 2: Ice Melting is a physical change

Chemical Properties and Changes

Chemical Property: Any characteristic that gives a sample of matter the ability/inability to undergo a change that alters its composition. Examples: Alkali metals react with water; Paper's ability to burn.

Chemical Change: Change in which one or more kinds of matter are transformed to new kinds of matter with altered compositions (or Chemical Reaction).Example 2: Corrosion of Metals

Corrosion is the unwanted oxidation of metals resulting in metal oxides.

Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium Oxide

2Mg+O2→2MgO

Iron + Oxygen → Iron Oxide (Rust)

4Fe+3O2→2Fe2O3

Using the components of composition and properties, we have the ability to distinguish one sample of matter from the others.

Problems

1. Milk turns sour. This is a ________________ Chemical Change Physical Change Chemical Property Physical Property None of the above

 2. HCl being a strong acid is a __________, Wood sawed in two is ___________

Chemical Change, Physical Change Physical Change, Chemical Change Chemical Property, Physical Change Physical Property, Chemical Change None of the above

       3. CuSO4 is dissolved in water

Chemical Change Physical Change Chemical Property Physical Property None of the above                      

        4. Aluminum Phosphate has a density of 2.566 g/cm3

Chemical Change Physical Change Chemical Property Physical Property None of the above

5. Which of the following are examples of matter?

A Dog Carbon Dioxide Ice Cubes copper (II) nitrate A Moving Car

6. The formation of gas bubbles is a sign of what type of change?

7. True or False: Bread rising is a physical property.8. True or False: Dicing potatoes is a physical change.9. Is sunlight matter?10. The mass of lead is a _____________property. 

Solutions

1)chemical change 2) chemical property, physical change 3) physical change 4) physical property 5) All of the above 6) chemical 7) False 8) True 9) No 10) physical property

Molecules are built up from the atom, which is the basic unit of any chemical element. The atom in turn is made from the proton, neutron, and electron. It turns out that protons and neutrons are made of varieties of a still smaller particle called the quark. At this time it appears that the two basic constituents of matter are the lepton (of which the electron is one type) and quark; there are believed to be six types of each. Each type of lepton and quark also has a corresponding antiparticle: a particle that has the same mass

but opposite electrical charge and magnetic moment. An isolated quark has never been found—quarks appear to almost always be found in pairs or triplets with other quarks and antiquarks (the resulting particles being classed as hadrons, more than 200 of which have been identified). Two theoretically predicted five-quark particles, called pentaquarks, have been produced in the laboratory. Four- and six-quark particles are also predicted but have not been found.The most familiar lepton is the electron; the other five leptons are the muon, the tau particle, and the three types ofneutrino associated with each: the electron neutrino, the muon neutrino, and the tau neutrino. The six quarks have been whimsically named up, down, charm, strange, top (or truth), and bottom (or beauty); the top quark, which has a mass greater than an entire atom of gold, is about 35 times heavier than the next biggest quark and may be the heaviest particle nature has ever created. The quarks found in ordinary matter are the up and down quarks, from which protons and neutrons are made. A proton, for instance, consists of two up quarks and a down quark, and a neutron consists of two down quarks and an up quark. The pentaquark consists of two up quarks, two down quarks, and the strange antiquark. (Quarks have fractional charges of one third or two thirds of the basic charge of the electron or proton.)

In particle physics, antimatter is material composed of antiparticles; which have the same mass

as particles of ordinary matter but have opposite charge and other particle properties such

as lepton and baryon number, quantum spin, etc. Collisions between particles and antiparticles lead to

the annihilation of both, giving rise to variable proportions of intense photons (gamma rays),neutrinos,

and less massive particle–antiparticle pairs. The mass of any produced neutrinos is negligible, while they

contain energy that generally continues to be unavailable after the release of particle–antiparticle

annihilation. The total consequence of annihilation is a release of energy available for work, proportional

to the total matter and antimatter mass, in accord with the mass–energy equivalence equation, E = mc2.[1]

Antiparticles bind with each other to form antimatter, just as ordinary particles bind to form normal matter.

For example, a positron(the antiparticle of the electron) and an antiproton can form an antihydrogen atom.

Physical principles indicate that complex antimatter atomic nuclei are possible, as well as anti-atoms

corresponding to the known chemical elements. Studies of cosmic rays have identified both positrons and

antiprotons, presumably produced by collisions between particles of ordinary matter. Satellite-based

searches of cosmic rays for antihelium particles have yielded nothing.[citation needed]

There is considerable speculation as to why the observable universe is composed almost entirely of

ordinary matter, as opposed to a more even mixture of matter and antimatter. This asymmetry of matter

and antimatter in the visible universe is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics.[2] The process

by which this inequality between particles and antiparticles developed is called baryogenesis.

Antimatter in the form of anti-atoms is one of the most difficult materials to produce. Antimatter in the form

of individual anti-particles, however, is commonly produced by particle accelerators and in some types

of radioactive decay. The nuclei of antihelium (both helium-3 and helium-4) have been artificially

produced with difficulty. These are the most complex anti-atoms so far observed.[citation needed]

Atoms are made from a nucleus of protons and neutrons and a cloud of electrons. Electrons are in constant motion around the nucleus, while the protons and neutrons move within the nucleus. Neutrons and protons are each composed of three quarks. As far as scientists can tell at the moment, quarks and electrons are among the most fundamental forms of matter.

What is an Atom ?

All substances are made up of matter and the fundamental unit of matter is the atom. The atom constitutes the smallest particle of an element. The atom is made of a central nucleus containing protons (positively-charged) and neutrons (with no charge). The electrons (negatively-charged with negligible mass) revolve around the nucleus in different imaginary paths called orbits or shells.

What is an Element ?

An element is a substance made up of atoms of one kind. There are about 82 naturally-occurring elements and about 31 artificially-made elements as listed in the Periodic Table.

What is Atomic Number and Atomic Weight ?

Atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Since atoms are electrically neutral, the number of protons equal the number of electrons in an atom.

Atomic weight (or relative atomic mass) of an element is the number of times an atom of that element is heavier than an atom of hydrogen. The atomic weight of hydrogen is taken to be unity [1].

Mass number of an element is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

The elements are arranged according to increasing atomic numbers (along with their atomic mass) in a table called the Periodic Table.

What is a Molecule ?

A molecule is formed when atoms of the same or different elements combine. A molecule is the smallest particle of a substance that can normally exist independently. Examples:

Two atoms of oxygen combine to form a molecule of oxygen [O2]. One atom of carbon combines with two atoms of oxygen to form a molecule of carbon dioxide

[CO2].

What is a Compound ?

A compound is formed when atoms or molecules of different elements combine. In a compound, elements are chemically combined in a fixed proportion. Examples:

Hydrogen and oxygen are combined in a fixed proportion of 2:1 to form the compound water [H2O].

Carbon and oxygen are combined in a fixed proportion of 1:2 to form the compound carbon dioxide [CO2].

What is a Mixture

A mixture is formed of little bits of one or more substances mixed together. Usually, the parts can be separated from each other byphysical means, because it does not involve any chemical reactions or bonds.

Types of MixturesA mixture can involve two or more substances of the same phase or different phases. For example: you can mix water and sand (liquid and solid), sugar and salt (solid and solid), water and oil (liquid and liquid) or nitrogen and oxygen (gas and gas). Clearly, mixtures can vary a lot and can be homogenous or heterogeneous.

Homogeneous mixture:Mixtures involve mixing substances, so let us first be clear what ahomogenous substance is. When a sample of matter has the same composition throughout, we call that substance a homogeneous substance. A cup of water will have the same chemical composition throughout ( ). That makes it a homogeneous substance. A piece of gold will also have the same ch

emical composition, making it a homogenous substance. Homogeneous Mixtures behave in a similar way — the substance formed appear to have the same chemical composition. 

ALLOYAn alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two elements, with one being a metal (solid). For example— Gold, as used in jewelry is usually a mixture of gold, silver and some other metals. When these metals are melted and mixed up, they form alloys. A sample of the new gold alloy will have the same chemical make-up as any other sample of that new gold allow. 

Heterogeneous MixtureA mixture can also result in two or more phases clearly separated by boundaries. Very often, the separation can be clearly seen by the eye. A heterogeneous mixture is one that does not have uniform properties and composition. Take a look at a bowl of cereal with nuts. A spoon full will surely have different number of nuts than a second spoonful taken at random. Another example—take some sea-sand into your palms. Look at it closely and you will notice that some sand particles are bigger than others, and the colors of some particles may be different too. They are NOT uniform in anyway!Heterogeneous mixtures include colloids, emulsions or suspensions.Click on each to find out more: 

A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of a liquid and a solid. The solid usually does not dissolve, and can be very visible to the eye. Sometimes the solids are heavy, and large enough for sedimentation (particles settling down in layers) in the container holding it. Unlike colloids, regular agitation is needed to keep mixture fairly mixed.

An example of a suspension is a mixture of sand and water.

An emulsion is a heterogeneous mixture of two or more liquids, in which one ends up as very tiny droplets inside the other. Very often, the liquids involved are not mutuallysoluble — like adding some water to a bottle of cooking oil. You will notice that, even after some shaking and agitation, it does not dissolve in each other, but appear as bits and pools in the main liquid. Emulsions behave this way.

A colloid (also known as colloidal dispersion) may look like a homogenous mixture, because the mixture looks very uniform. Under a bit of magnification, the solute is not completely dissolved, and the particles are big enough, making the entire mixture cloudy. For example—Mayonnaise is a mixture of egg yolk, vinegar and lemon juice. It is whisked smoothly to a degree that it feels so smooth, but under a microscope, the solute is not completely dissolved. Examples of colloids are Milk, Mayonnaise, Butter, Egg Whites.

Separating Mixtures 

Mixtures come in many forms and phases. Most of them can be separated, and the kind of separation method depends on the kind of mixture it is. Below are some common separation methods:

Paper ChromatographyThis method is often used in the food industry. It is used to identify chemicals (coloring agents) in foods or inks. For example, if a scientist wants to know how many substances are in a particular blob of ink, paper chromatography can be used. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

FiltrationThis is a more common method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid. An example of such a mixture is sand and water. Filtration is used in water treatment plants, where water from rivers are filtered to remove solid particles. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

EvaporationEvaporation is great for separating a mixture (solution) of a soluble solid and a solvent. The process involves heating the solution until the solvent evaporates (turns into gas) leaving behind the solid residue. CLICK HERE to see an illustration of how it works.

Simple distillationThis method is best for separating a liquid from a solution. In a way, the concept is similar to evaporation, but in this case, the vapor is collected by condensation. For example, if you want to separate water from a salt solution, simple distillation would be great for this. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

Fractional distillationSimilar to simple distillation, fractional distillation is best for separating a solution of two miscible liquids. (Miscible liquids are liquids that dissolve in each other). Fractional method takes advantage of the different boiling points of the two liquids. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

MagnetismMagnetism is ideal for separating mixtures of two solids with one part having magnetic properties. Some metals like iron, nickel and cobalt have magnetic properties whiles gold, silver and aluminum do not. Magnetic elements are attracted to a magnet. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

Separating funnelIn this technique, two liquids that do not dissolve very well in each other (immiscible liquids) can be separated by taking advantage of their unequal density. A mixture of oil and water, for example, can be separated by this technique. CLICK HERE to see how it works.