Matter Vocabulary

Word Definition Image

atom atoms as a source of nuclear energy or

an extremely small amount of a thing or
quality

element a part or aspect of something abstract,

especially one that is essential or
characteristic

constraint a limitation or restriction

criteria a principle or standard by which
something may be judged or decided

atomic mass the mass of an atom of a chemical

element expressed in atomic mass units.
It is approximately equivalent to the
number of protons and neutrons in the
atom (the mass number) or to the
average number allowing for the relative
abundances of different isotopes

Periodic table a table of the chemical elements arranged

in order of atomic number, usually in
rows, so that elements with similar atomic
structure (and hence similar chemical
properties) appear in vertical columns

Chemical symbol a chemical symbol is a notation of 

one or two letters representing a 
chemical element. The exceptions to 
the one- to two-letter symbol are the 
temporary element symbols assigned 
to designate new or to-be-synthesized 
elements

molecule a group of atoms bonded together, 

representing the smallest fundamental 
unit of a chemical compound that can 
take part in a chemical reaction
chemical bond a thing used to tie something or to fasten 
things together

model a system or thing used as an example to 

follow or imitate

chemical A Chemical Structure is a number of 

structure atoms of each element in a 
compound. The structural formula 
shows both the actual number of 
atoms of elements in a compound 
and also how the atoms are arranged 
as well as which atoms are bonded to 
one another

atomic The definition of atomic structure is 

composition the positively charged nucleus and the 
negatively charged electrons circling 
around it, within an atom. An example 
of atomic structure is what gives 
energy to atoms and then to 
molecules

crystal a piece of a homogeneous solid 

substance having a natural geometrically 
regular form with symmetrically arranged 
plane faces
extended Substances are made from different 
structure types of atoms, which combine with 
one another in various ways. Atoms 
form molecules that range in size 
from two to thousands of atoms

polymer a substance that has a molecular 

structure consisting chiefly or entirely 
of a large number of similar units 
bonded together, e.g., many synthetic 
organic materials used as plastics 
and resins

macroscopic relating to large-scale or general 

analysis

substance a particular kind of matter with 

uniform properties

property a thing or things belonging to someone; 

possessions collectively

mass a coherent, typically large body of 

matter with no definite shape
density the degree of compactness of a 
substance

solubility the degree of compactness of a 

substance

state of matter a state of matter is one of the distinct 

forms in which matter can exist

solid firm and stable in shape; not liquid or 

fluid

liquid a substance that flows freely but is of 

constant volume, having a 
consistency like that of water or oil

gas a substance or matter in a state in 

which it will expand freely to fill the 
whole of a container, having no fixed 
shape (unlike a solid) and no fixed 
volume (unlike a liquid)
boiling point the temperature at which a liquid boils 
and turns to vapor

melting point the temperature at which a given solid 

will melt

pressure continuous physical force exerted on 

or against an object by something in 
contact with it

temperature the degree or intensity of heat present 

in a substance or object, especially as 
expressed according to a comparative 
scale and shown by a thermometer or 
perceived by touch
Thermal energy Thermal energy is the energy that is 
generated and measured by heat

heat the quality of being hot; high temperature

sublime of such excellence, grandeur, or 

beauty as to inspire great admiration 
or awe

evaporate turn from liquid into vapor

deposit a sum of money placed or kept in a bank 

account, usually to gain interest
condense make (something) denser or more 
concentrated

product an article or substance that is 

manufactured or refined for sale

reactant a substance that takes part in and 

undergoes change during a reaction

Scientific Scientific evidence is evidence which 

evidence serves to either support or counter a 
scientific theory or hypothesis

Clinical trial Scientific evidence is evidence which 

serves to either support or counter a 
scientific theory or hypothesis

Chemical A chemical equation is the symbolic 

equation representation of a chemical reaction 
in the form of symbols and formulae, 
wherein the reactant entities are given 
on the left-hand side and the product 
 entities on the right-hand side.

Scientific law A scientific law is a statement based 

on repeated experimental 
observations that describes some 
aspect of the world

Law of The law of conservation of mass or 

conservation of principle of mass conservation states 
that for any system closed to all transfers 
matter
of matter and energy, the mass of the 
system must remain constant over time, 
as system's mass cannot change, so  s
quantity cannot be added nor removed

exothermic An exothermic reaction is a chemical 

reaction reaction that releases energy through 
light or heat. It is the opposite of an 
endothermic reaction. Expressed in a 
chemical equation

endothermic An endothermic process is any process 

reaction which requires or absorbs energy from its 
surroundings, usually in the form of heat

prototype a first, typical or preliminary model of 

something, especially a machine, from 
which other forms are developed or 
copied
synthetic any of various man-made textile fibers 
material including usually those made from 
natural materials 

natural materials or substances such as 

resource minerals, forests, water, and fertile land 
that occur in nature and can be used for 
economic gain

food additive a substance added to food to enhance its 

flavor or appearance or to preserve it

biodegradable (of a substance or object) capable of 

being decomposed by bacteria or other 
living organisms