What is Matter?
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. All objects around us—air, water, rocks, and living things—are matter.
Matter is divided into:
- Pure Substances → Elements and Compounds
- Mixtures
A. Elements
An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions.
Characteristics:
- Consists of one kind of atom
- Cannot be chemically decomposed
- Has specific physical and chemical properties
Examples:
- Oxygen (O₂)
- Iron (Fe)
- Gold (Au)
etc
Types of Elements:
- Metals → strong, shiny, good conductors (e.g., iron, copper)
- Nonmetals → dull, poor conductors (e.g., oxygen, carbon)
- Metalloids → properties between metals and nonmetals (e.g., silicon)
A compound is a pure substance formed when two or more elements combine chemically in a fixed ratio.
Characteristics:
- Made of different elements
- Has a fixed composition
- Can be broken down by chemical reactions
- Properties are different from the original elements
Examples:
- Water (H₂O)
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Sodium chloride (NaCl)
C. Mixtures
A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are physically combined and not chemically bonded.
Characteristics:
- Composition is not fixed
- Each substance keeps its original properties
- Can be separated by physical methods
Types of Mixtures:
-
Homogeneous Mixture (Solution)
- Uniform composition
- Example: salt water, air
-
Heterogeneous Mixture
- Non-uniform composition
- Example: sand and water, oil and water
D. Differences Between Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
E. Separation of Mixtures
Mixtures can be separated using physical methods such as:
- Filtration → separates solids from liquids
- Evaporation → separates dissolved solids
- Distillation → separates liquids based on boiling points
- Magnetism → separates magnetic materials
