Matter and its Properties
By: Caanon Gibbons
Terms and Definitions
Mixtures - two or more substances which have been combined such that each substance retains its own chemical identity
Homogeneous - mixture where the components that make up the mixture are uniformly distributed throughout the mixture; the composition of the mixture is the same
Heterogeneous - a mixture where the components of the mixture are not uniform or have localized regions with different properties; different samples from the mixture are not identical to each other
Pure Substances - a material that has constant composition and has consistent properties throughout the sample
Compounds - a chemical species that is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically
Elements - a substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means; elements are defined by the number of protons they possess.
Atoms - the defining structure of an element, which can't broken by any chemical means. A typical atom consists of a nucleus of protons and neutrons with electrons orbiting this nucleus.
Molecules - refers to two or more atoms which have chemically combined to make a single species