Matter and Its Properties

Learning Objective
• To define matter and know its
properties
Key Understanding
 Understanding of the definition of
matter and its properties in relation to
helping chemists in identifying
substances
Key Question
 What is matter and its properties?
 What is Matter?

• Matter is anything that has mass and

occupies space.

• The three phases of matter are solid,

liquid, and gas.
 Differences in Particle Properties of
the Three Phases of Matter
Property Solid Phase Liquid Phase Gas Phase
Arrangement of Particles are Particles have Particles have
particles tightly packed a disordered a totally
with ordered arrangement. disordered
arrangement arrangement.

Relative Particles are Particles are close Particles are

spacing close to one another far apart.
between to one another.
particles

Relative motion Particles are Particles are free Particles have

of essentially in to move, relative complete
particles fixed to other particles. freedom
positions of motion.
Solid
• Solid, a state of matter, has definite shape and
volume.
• Solids have particles that are tightly packed,
often in an orderly manner. Because of this
arrangement of particles, a solid does not
conform to the shape of its container.
• Moreover, a solid is incompressible; that is, it
cannot be pressed into a smaller volume. It also
expands only slightly when heated.
 Liquid

• Liquid, another state of matter, has indefinite

shape and definite volume.
• Liquids, unlike solids, have particles that are not
rigidly held in place and are less tightly packed.
• Liquid particles are able to move past one
another; hence, liquids flow and take the shape
of their containers.
 Gas

• Gas, yet another state of matter, has indefinite

shape and volume.
• A gas flows and takes the shape and fills the
entire volume of its container.
• In comparison to solids and liquids, gases have
particles that are far apart from one another.
This is the reason why gases are compressible.
• Gas refers to a substance that is naturally in the
gaseous state at room temperature. Oxygen is a
gas because at room temperature, its natural
state is gaseous.

• Vapor refers to the gaseous state of a

substance, that is, a solid or a liquid at room
temperature. Steam is an example of vapor
because water exists as liquid at room
temperature.
 Properties of Solid, Liquid, and Gas
Property Solid Liquid Gas
Compressibility Almost Slightly Highly
incompressible compressible compressible
Density High High Very low
Volume Retains own Definite volume; Fills the container
volume does not fill
container
Shape Retains own shape Assumes shape of Assumes shape of
container container
Diffusion Extremely slow; Slow Rapid
occurs only at
surface
Expansion Low expansion on Low expansion on High expansion on
heating heating heating
 Properties of Matter
• Physical Property ‒ is characteristic that can
be observed and measured without changing
the identity and composition of the substance.
• Other examples of physical properties aside
from those already discussed in the previous
section are color, melting point, and boiling
point.
• Physical properties are very important because
these help chemists in identifying substances .
Physical Properties of Some Substances

Substance State Color Melting Point Boiling Point

(°C) (°C)
Hydrogen Gas Colorless -259 -253
Oxygen Gas Colorless -218 -183
Chlorine Gas Greenish -101 -34
yellow
Methanol Liquid Colorless -94 65
Mercury Liquid Silvery white -39 357
Water Liquid Colorless 0 100
Sulfur Solid White 115 445
Gold Solid Yellow 1064 2856
Platinum Solid Silvery white 1769 3825
 Properties of Matter
• Chemical property refers to the ability of a
substance to undergo changes to transform into
a different substance.
• It describes how a substance reacts with
another substance.
• An example of a chemical property is the ability
of iron to rust by combining with oxygen in air.
Another chemical property is flammability, which
is illustrated by the ability of charcoal to burn in
air.
 Properties of Matter
• When a substance undergoes changes in its
composition, a chemical change or chemical
reaction occurs.
• In a chemical change, one or more substances are
converted into different substances. The
substances that transform, or undergo chemical
reaction, are called the reactants.
• The substances that are formed are called
products. In the charcoal burning cited as an
example earlier, carbon and oxygen are the
reactants in the combustion reaction and carbon
dioxide is the product.
 Properties of Matter

The chemical change that occurs can be

described as:
Carbon plus oxygen yields carbon dioxide.

This may also be written with the arrow and plus

sign used to substitute the words plus and yields,
respectively, as shown below:
carbon + oxygen carbon dioxide
C + O2 CO2
 Properties of Matter
• Extensive properties depend on the amount of
matter present. Examples of extensive properties
are mass, volume, and the amount of energy in a
substance.
• On the other hand, intensive properties do not
depend on the amount of matter present. Such
properties include density, melting point, freezing
point, and ability to conduct heat and electricity.
Note that an intensive property is a property that
depends on the kind of matter in a sample, not on
the amount of matter present.
 Section Assessment

• Make a brochure of tourist spots in the

Philippines. Include photos and identify the
states of matter in the photos. Be as specific as
possible in your descriptions of the solids,
liquids, and gases in your tourist spots. Show
intellectual honesty by citing your references
and giving photo credits.