Introduction to Matter
Matter is anything that occupies space and has a mass.
Everything around us is matter. Dalton said that matter is made up of atoms.
According to him, atoms were the smallest particles that you will ever find.
States of Matter
1. Solids
2. Liquids
3. Gases
Properties of the states of matter
Solids
Particles are closely packed/fixed together.
Arrangement of particles is regular.
Particles do not move but they vibrate
Particles have very strong forces of attraction between them that
keep them together.
Examples: stone, rubber, spoon, ice e.t.c
Liquids
Particles are close together but with small gaps between them
Particles move freely
Particles have less forces of attraction between them compared to
particles in liquids
Examples: water, ink, tar, paraffin e.t.c
Gases
Particles are further apart/far away from each other.
Particles move randomly at high speed in all directions.
There is almost no force of attraction between the particles
Examples: biogas, oxygen gas, water vapour e.t.c
Elements
Elements are pure substances
They are made up of same type of atoms
Compounds
Compunds are pure substances
They are made up of different types of atoms that are chemically combined.
Important note
Atoms of the same elements are identical. On the other hand, atoms of different elements are different.
Atoms join together to form molecules.
Examples of molecules:
1. Oxygen exists as O2
Meaning
1 molecule of oxygen contains 2 atoms
2. Hydrogen gas exists as H2
Meaning
1 molecule of hydrogen contains 2 atoms
3. Water exists as H2O
Meaning
1 molecule of water contains 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen.
EFFECTS OF IMPURITIES ON MELTING AND BOILING POINTS OF SUBSTANCES
Most materials that we use are mixtures, and just a few are pure elements or pure compounds.
Impurities change the temperature at which a substance melts and boils.
A pure substance has a fixed melting point and boiling point, which means they will always melt
or boil at exactly the same temperature.
For example,
the melting point of pure water is 0 °C and its boiling point is 100 °C.
When a substance contains impurities, its melting and boiling points change.
For example:
When salt is added to water, the mixture freezes below 0 °C, and boils at a
temperature over 100°C.
Therefore, impurities have the following effects;
Lower the melting point of a substance.
Increase the boiling point of a substance.
Assignment
1. What name is given to each of the following changes of state?
a. Solid to liquid
b. Liquid to solid
c. Solid to gas
d. Gas to solid
2. Draw diagrams to show the arrangement of particles in a solid, liquid and a gas.
3. Describe the differences between the movement of particles in a solid and a liquid.
4. Which boxes represent an element?
He He H–O–O–H H–H H–O–H H–H
He H–O–O–H H–H H–O–H H–H
He H–O–O–H H–H H–O–H H–H
He H–O–O–H H–H H–O–H H–O –H
First twenty Elements in a periodic table
No. Element Chemical symbol
1.
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5.
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20.
