Classification of Matter

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What is a Physical Change?

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A change that alters the form or appearance of a substance but does not change its chemical composition. Examples include melting, freezing, and dissolving.

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What is a Chemical Change?

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A change that results in the formation of one or more new substances with different properties. Examples include burning, rusting, and digestion.

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What is a Heterogeneous Mixture?

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A mixture in which the different components can be seen and easily separated. Example: Vegetable soup.

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What is a Homogeneous Mixture?

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A mixture that has a uniform composition throughout. The different components are not easily distinguishable. Example: Saltwater.

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What is a Solution?

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A homogeneous mixture where one substance (solute) is dissolved in another (solvent). Example: Sugar dissolved in water.

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What is a Colloid?

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A mixture where tiny particles of one substance are evenly distributed throughout another substance. Example: Milk.

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What is an Element?

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A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Example: Oxygen (O).

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What is a Compound?

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A substance formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded together. Example: Water (H2O).

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What happens during a Physical Change?

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The substance may change its state (solid, liquid, gas), size, or shape, but its chemical identity remains the same.

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What happens during a Chemical Change?

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The original substance(s) are transformed into one or more new substances with different properties.