Matter Vocabulary

Word Definition Image

atom 1. the smallest component of

an element having the
chemical properties of the
element, consisting of a
nucleus containing
combinations of neutrons
and protons and one or
more electrons bound to the
nucleus by electrical
attraction; the number of
protons determines the
identity of the element.

element one of a class of substances that

cannot be separated into simpler
substances by chemical ​means

constraint limitation or ​restriction

criteria a standard of judgment or

criticism; a rule or principle for
evaluating or testing ​something
atomic mass the mass of an isotope of an
element measured in units
formerly based on the mass of
one hydrogen atom taken as a
unit or on 1/16 (0.0625) the mass
of one oxygen atom, but after
1961 based on 1/12 (0.0833) the
mass of the carbon-12 ​atom
Periodic table a table illustrating the periodic
system, in which the chemical
elements, formerly arranged in
the order of their atomic weights
and now according to their atomic
numbers, are shown in related
groups
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. Temporary element 
symbols ​are three letters that are 
based on the element's atomic 
number

molecule Chemistry ,​ ​Physics ​. the smallest

physical unit of an element or
compound, consisting of one or
more like atoms in an element
and two or more different atoms
in a compound
chemical bond a thing used to tie something or to fasten 
things together

model a standard or example for

imitation or comparison

chemical The arrangement of c ​ hemical​ bonds 

structure between atoms in a molecule (or in an 
ion or radical with multiple atoms), 
specifically which atoms are 
chemically bonded to what other 
atoms with what kind of ​chemical 
bond, together with any information 
on the geometric shape of the 
molecule needed to uniquely identify 

atomic composition​ of the A​ tom​. The ​atom 

composition consists of a tiny nucleus surrounded 
by moving electrons. The nucleus 
contains protons, which have a 
positive charge equal in magnitude to 
the electron's negative charge. The 
nucleus may also contain neutrons, 
which have virtually the same mass 
but no charge
crystal a clear, transparent mineral or
glass resembling ice

extended Atoms form molecules that range in 

structure size from two to thousands of atoms. 
( MS-PS1-1) Solids may be formed 
from molecules, or they may be 
extended structures w​ ith repeating 
subunits 

polymer a compound of high molecular

weight derived either by the
addition of many smaller
molecules, as polyethylene, or by
the condensation of many smaller
molecules with the elimination of
water,alcohol, or the like, as nylon
macroscopic visible to the naked ​eye.

substance that of which a thing consists;

physical matter or material
property that which a person owns; the
possession or possessions of a
particular ​owner

mass Mass​ is both a property of a physical 

body and a measure of its resistance 
to acceleration (a change in its state 
of motion) when a net force is applied. 
The object's ​mass​ also determines 
the strength of its gravitational 
attraction to other bodies. The basic 
SI unit of m
​ ass​ is the kilogram 

density the degree of compactness of a 

substance

solubility Solubility is the property of a solid, liquid 

or gaseous chemical substance called 
solute to dissolve in a solid, liquid or 
gaseous solvent
state of matter In physics, a state of matter is one of the 
distinct forms in which matter can exist. 
Four states of matter are observable in 
everyday life: solid, liquid, gas, and 
plasma

solid firm and stable in shape; not liquid or 

fluid.

liquid A ​liquid​ is a nearly incompressible 

fluid that conforms to the shape of its 
container but retains a (nearly) 
constant volume independent of 
pressure. As such, it is one of the four 
fundamental states of matter (the 
others being solid, gas, and plasma), 
and is the only state with a definite 
volume but no fixed shape.

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 

comes from h ​ eat​. This ​heat​ is 
generated by the movement of tiny 
particles within an object. The faster 
these particles move, the more ​heat​ is 
generated.

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 An accumulation or layer of solid 

material, either consolidated or 
unconsolidated, left or laid down by a 
natural process. ​Deposits​ include 
sediments left by water, wind, ice, 
gravity, volcanic activity, or other 
agents.

condense change or cause to change from a gas or 

vapor to a liquid.

product in chemistry, a ​product​ is a substance 

that is formed as the result of a 
chemical reaction. ... The number and 
type of atoms on the reactants side of 
the equation are the same as the 
number and type of atoms in the 
products

reactant a substance that takes part in and 

undergoes change during a reaction
chemical a process that involves rearrangement of 
reaction the molecular or ionic structure of a 
substance, as opposed to a change in 
physical form or a nuclear reaction

Scientific Scientific evidence​ is e

​ vidence​ which 
evidence serves to either support or counter a 
scientific​ theory or hypothesis. Such 
evidence​ is expected to be empirical 
evidence​ and interpreted in 
accordance with the ​scientific​ method

Clinical trial  
Clinical trials are experiments or 
observations done in clinical research. 
Such prospective biomedical or 
behavioral research studies on human 
participants are designed to answer 
specific questions  

Chemical A ​chemical equation​ is the symbolic 

equation representation of a c​ hemical​ 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 The laws of science, also called scientific 

laws or scientific principles, are 
statements that describe or predict a 
range of natural phenomena. Each 
scientific law is a statement based on 
repeated experimental observations that 
describes some aspect of the Universe
Law of The ​law of conservation​ of mass or 
conservation of principle of mass ​conservation​ states 
matter that for any system closed to all 
transfers of m
​ atter​ and energy, the 
mass of the system must remain 
constant over time, as system's mass 
cannot change, so quantity cannot be 
added or removed. Hence, the 
quantity of mass is conserved over 
time

exothermic An endothermic process is any process 

reaction which requires or absorbs energy from its 
surroundings, usually in the form of heat. 
It may be a chemical process, such as 
dissolving ammonium nitrate in water, or 
simply the melting of ice cubes

endothermic An endothermic process is any process 

reaction which requires or absorbs energy from its 
surroundings, usually in the form of heat. 
It may be a chemical process, such as 
dissolving ammonium nitrate in water, or 
simply the melting of ice cubes

prototype a first, typical or preliminary model of 

something, especially a machine, from 
which other forms are developed or 
copied

synthetic Something made of artificial m ​ aterial​, 

material not natural items, can be described as 
synthetic. ... The adjective ​synthetic 
usually describes things created by 
chemical synthesis (​synthetic 
compound, ​synthetic​ drug, s ​ ynthetic 
material​), but it sometimes describes 
an emotion that is feigned or not 
genuine
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 Food additives​ are substances added 

to ​food​ to preserve flavor or enhance 
its taste, appearance, or other 
qualities. ... ​Food additives a​ lso 
include substances that may be 
introduced to ​food​ indirectly (called 
"indirect ​additives​") in the 
manufacturing process, through 
packaging, or during storage or 
transport

biodegradable (of a substance or object) capable of 

being decomposed by bacteria or other 
living organisms