Matter, Physical Changes, and Chemical Changes Glossary

Front

Matter

Back

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Front

Atom

Back

The basic unit of a chemical element, made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Front

Molecule

Back

A group of two or more atoms bonded together.

Front

Physical Change

Back

A change in the form or appearance of matter without changing its chemical composition.

Front

Chemical Change

Back

A process where one or more substances are transformed into different substances with new chemical properties.

Front

Physical Property

Back

A characteristic of matter that can be observed or measured without changing its composition.

Front

Chemical Property

Back

A characteristic of matter that becomes evident during a chemical reaction; it describes the substance’s ability to change into different substances.

Front

Solid

Back

A state of matter with a definite shape and volume.

Front

Liquid

Back

A state of matter that has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container.

Front

Gas

Back

A state of matter that does not have a definite shape or volume and can expand to fill its container.