Classification of Matter

“What does it Matter?“

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Matter

A substance is a type of matter that has a fixed or definite

composition (makeup).

All substances are made of atoms.

Pure Substance

When a substance is made up of just one type of atom it is

called an element.

Ex. Gold, Copper, Helium, Oxygen

Element

When a substance is made of two or more elements it is

called a compound.

Ex. Water, Table Salt, Carbon Dioxide

Compound

Matter with a variable composition (makeup).

It is made of two or more substances and can easily be

separated.

Mixture

A mixture that contains different materials that are

unevenly distributed and can be easily identified.

*How is this different from a compound?

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture of solid, liquid or gas that contains two or more substances

blended evenly throughout.

Also known as a solution. A solution is a homogeneous mixture of particles so small that they cannot be seen with a microscope

and would never settle.

Homogeneous Mixtures

A type of mixture with particles that are larger than those in solutions but

not heavy enough to settle to the bottom of the container.

*Colloid is often a mixture of things that don’t

mix.

Colloid

A mixture containing a liquid in which visible particles settle.

Suspension