Matter Vocabulary

Terms	Definitions (Matter)
Matter	Anything that has mass and takes up space
Mass	A measure of the amount of matter in an object
Density	The amount of matter in a certain volume of a substance-found by dividing the mass by the volume
Volume	A measure of how much space the matter of an object takes up
Weight	A measure of how gravity pulls on an object
Property	Something that can be observed about an object or a group of objects
Buoyancy	The upward push of a liquid or gas on an object placed in it
State of matter	One of three common forms that matter can take: Solid, liquid or gas
Surface tension	A property of liquids where particles pull toward the other particles creating a "skin" on the surface

Melting- When a solid turns into a liquid

Freezing- a liquid turns into a solid

Boiling- a liquid becomes a gas

Condensation- a gas becomes a liquid

Evaporation-liquid becoming a gas

Physical properties:	Properties that do not change the chemical nature of matter. Examples of physical properties are: color, smell, freezing point, boiling point, melting point
Chemical properties:	Properties that do change the chemical nature of matter

Qualitative observations- use your senses to observe the results. (Sight, smell, touch, taste and 

hear.)

Quantitative observations- are made with instruments such as rulers, balances, graduated 

cylinders, beakers, and thermometers. These results are measurable.

Atom-  the basic building block for all matter in the universe. They are extremely small and are made up of a few even smaller particles. The basic particles that make up an atom are electrons, protons, and neutrons. 

Law of Conservation of Matter- Mass or matter can not be created or destroyed. 

Element- a pure substance that is made from a single type of atom. They are the building blocks for all the rest of the matter in the world. Examples of elements include iron, oxygen, hydrogen, gold, and helium.