Properties of Matter

Vocabulary Words Matter Mass Volume Physical Properties Chemical Property State of Matter Texture Color Odor Hardness Magnetism Conductivity Viscosity Malleability Ductility Solubility Density Reactivity Oxidation Flammability

Matter Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Mass The amount of matter in an object.

Volume The amount of space an object takes up.

Physical Property A characteristic describing a substance that can be measured without changing the chemical formula of the substance.

Chemical Property A characteristic of a substance that can only be observed by altering the chemical makeup of the substance. (through a chemical reaction)

State of Matter One of the four principal conditions in which matter exists—solid, liquid, gas,and plasma.

Texture The feel, appearance, or consistancy of the surface of an object.

Color The look of an object based on the way light rays bounce off the object into your eye.

Odor The smell or vapor produced by an object.

Hardness The ability of an object to resist being scratched, dented, or deformed.

Magnetism Measurement of an object to be attracted to a magnet.

Conductivity The measure of a given substance to conduct an electrical current.

Viscosity The measure of a substance’s resistance to flow.

Malleability Measurement of a substance’s ability to be shaped by hammering or applied pressure without breaking or shattering.

Ductility Measurement of a substance’s ability to be stretched or pulled thin without breaking. (ex. pulling metal into a wire shape.)

Solubility Measurement of a substance’s ability to be dissolved in a certain solute. (ex. sugar will dissolve in water, but oil will not dissolve or mix with water.)

Density Measurement of the compactness of a substance’s molecules. Expressed as mass divided by volume.

Reactivity Measurement of a substance’s ability and likelihood to undergo a chemical reaction with another substance.

Oxidation Measurement of a substance’s ability and likelihood of reacting with oxygen. ex. burning - fast oxidation rusting - slow oxidation

Flammability Measurement of how likely or how easily a substance can be set on fire. Measurement of a substance’s combustibility.