matter note cards

Matter: anything that has mass and volume; everything around us

Solid: phase of matter that has definite volume and definite shape; molecules are packed very
close together. They have little room for movement.

Liquid: phase of matter that has a definite volume but not a definite shape; molecules are
packed close together but have room to move.

Gas: phase of matter that does not have a definite volume or shape; molecules are packed very
far apart. They have a lot of room to move


Boyle’s Law: shows the relationship between the volume and the pressure of a contained gas.
States that the volume of a fixed amount of gas varies inversely with the
pressure of the gas.

Charles’s Law: shows the relationship between the temperature and the volume of a
contained gas. States that the volume of a fixed amount of gas varies
directly with the temperature of the gas.

Properties: qualities or characteristics

Physical Properties: characteristics that describe a substance without changing it into
something new or different. Ex. mass, shape, color, density,
texture, size……

Chemical Properties: characteristics that describe how a substance changes into something
new and different. Ex. flammability, rusting/tarnishing, fizzing,
combustability……

Physical Changes: result in a change to a substances physical appearance and not its
chemical composition. Ex. boil, melt, freeze, evaporate, rip/tear,
dissolve ……..

Chemical Changes: result in a change to a substances chemical makeup. New and different
substances are formed. Ex. burn, rust, bleach, explode, rot/corrode …