4.13: End of Chapter Key Terms

Phases and Classification of Matter Key Terms

1. Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
2. Element: A pure substance that consists of only one type of atom, defined by its number of protons.
3. Compound: A substance formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio.
4. Mixture: A combination of two or more substances in which each substance retains its individual chemical properties.
5. Homogeneous Mixture: A mixture that has a uniform composition throughout, also known as a solution.
6. Heterogeneous Mixture: A mixture that does not have a uniform composition throughout, with distinct phases or parts.
7. Pure Substance: A material with a constant composition and distinct chemical properties, such as elements and compounds.
8. Phase: A distinct form of matter with uniform physical and chemical properties, such as solid, liquid, or gas.
9. Solid: A state of matter characterized by a definite shape and volume, with particles closely packed in a fixed arrangement.
10. Liquid: A state of matter characterized by a definite volume but no definite shape, with particles close together but able to move past one another.
11. Gas: A state of matter characterized by no definite shape or volume, with particles far apart and moving freely.
12. Plasma: A high-energy state of matter where atoms are ionized, found in stars and fluorescent lights.
13. Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC): A state of matter formed at temperatures close to absolute zero, where particles occupy the same space and quantum state.
14. Phase Transition: The transformation of matter from one phase to another, such as melting, freezing, boiling, or condensing.
15. Melting: The process of changing from a solid to a liquid by adding heat.
16. Freezing: The process of changing from a liquid to a solid by removing heat.
17. Vaporization: The process of changing from a liquid to a gas, including both evaporation and boiling.
18. Condensation: The process of changing from a gas to a liquid by removing heat.
19. Sublimation: The process of changing from a solid directly to a gas without passing through the liquid phase.
20. Deposition: The process of changing from a gas directly to a solid without passing through the liquid phase.
21. Boiling Point: The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas throughout the liquid, occurring at a specific temperature and pressure.
22. Melting Point: The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.
23. Freezing Point: The temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid.
24. Critical Point: The temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gas phases of a substance become indistinguishable.
25. Triple Point: The temperature and pressure at which all three phases (solid, liquid, gas) of a substance coexist in equilibrium.
26. Phase Diagram: A graph showing the conditions of temperature and pressure under which a substance exists in different phases.
27. Viscosity: A measure of a liquid's resistance to flow.
28. Density: The mass of a substance per unit volume, often measured in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
29. Pressure: The force exerted per unit area, often measured in pascals (Pa) or atmospheres (atm).
30. Intermolecular Forces: Forces of attraction or repulsion between molecules, affecting the physical properties of substances.
31. Van der Waals Forces: Weak intermolecular forces, including dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interactions.
32. Hydrogen Bonding: A strong type of dipole-dipole interaction between molecules containing hydrogen bonded to a highly electronegative atom (such as oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine).
33. Ionic Solid: A solid consisting of ions held together by electrostatic forces (ionic bonds), typically with high melting points and electrical conductivity when molten.
34. Molecular Solid: A solid consisting of molecules held together by intermolecular forces, typically with lower melting points.
35. Metallic Solid: A solid consisting of metal atoms held together by a "sea" of shared electrons, characterized by electrical conductivity and malleability.
36. Covalent Network Solid: A solid consisting of atoms held together in large networks or chains by covalent bonds, typically with very high melting points.
37. Amorphous Solid: A solid in which atoms or molecules are not arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.
38. Crystalline Solid: A solid in which atoms or molecules are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.
39. Alloy: A mixture of metals or a mixture of a metal and another element, designed to have specific properties.
40. Solution: A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
41. Solvent: The substance in which the solute is dissolved to form a solution.
42. Solute: The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.