INTRODUCTION – NATURE OF MATTER
Matter is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. Common examples of
matter include books, water, drugs, plants, chairs, stone, air, palm nut, food, wood, table,
pencil, etc.
Properties of Matter:
Two properties of matter are Physical and Chemical Properties.
Physical properties are properties associated with physical changes. For example, colour,
density, size, texture, appearance, odour, density, melting point, boiling point, solubility,
polarity, freezing point, volume, mass, hardness, malleability, crystalline form, taste, etc.
Chemical properties are those properties which occur when matter undergoes changes
and new substances are formed. For example, burning of any substance in the air, rusting of
iron, etc.
Physical and Chemical Changes
Physical Change:
Physical change is one which is easily reversible and in which no new substance is formed,
for example when a solid (ice) is heated, it melts to form a liquid (water), on cooling, the
Liquid solidifies to ice again.
Other examples of Physical change;
1. Dissolution of common salt in water.
2. Melting of ice, candle wax, etc.
3. Freezing of liquid to solid.
4. Vaporisation of liquid e.g. water.
5. Liquefaction of gasses.
6. Sublimation of camphor, iodine.
7. Magnetisation of iron.
Matter is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. Common examples of
matter include books, water, drugs, plants, chairs, stone, air, palm nut, food, wood, table,
pencil, etc.
Properties of Matter:
Two properties of matter are Physical and Chemical Properties.
Physical properties are properties associated with physical changes. For example, colour,
density, size, texture, appearance, odour, density, melting point, boiling point, solubility,
polarity, freezing point, volume, mass, hardness, malleability, crystalline form, taste, etc.
Chemical properties are those properties which occur when matter undergoes changes
and new substances are formed. For example, burning of any substance in the air, rusting of
iron, etc.
Physical and Chemical Changes
Physical Change:
Physical change is one which is easily reversible and in which no new substance is formed,
for example when a solid (ice) is heated, it melts to form a liquid (water), on cooling, the
Liquid solidifies to ice again.
Other examples of Physical change;
1. Dissolution of common salt in water.
2. Melting of ice, candle wax, etc.
3. Freezing of liquid to solid.
4. Vaporisation of liquid e.g. water.
5. Liquefaction of gasses.
6. Sublimation of camphor, iodine.
7. Magnetisation of iron.
