ShareMatter - Does It Matter?
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Because there are so many types of matter, it is helpful to use a classification system to categorize the types of matter. The following diagram represents a common type of classification system used for matter.
| Matter Anything that takes up space and has mass. |
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| Atom The smallest particle that has the properties of an element. |
Molecule The smallest unit of a substance that shows the properties of that substance. |
| Properties A physical characteristic used to describe something. |
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A molecule acts as a unit. Water is a molecule that is a unit of three different atoms - two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Here is an example:
One molecule of water has three atoms. Many, many millions of water molecules together make up clouds, glasses of waters, rivers, lakes, streams, glaciers, ice caps - the list goes on and on!
Got it?Read each of the following descriptions. Determine if it represents the definitions you learned for matter, atom, molecule, or properties. Pick your choice for each description. Then highlight the box below to check your answers.
- A Skateboard
- Bright and shiny
- The smallest possible particle of pure gold
- Rough and red
- A Bicycle
- A Combination of electrons, protons, and neutrons
- Water
| 1. Matter, 2. Properties, 3. Molecule, 4. Atom, 5. Properties, 6. Matter, 7. Atom, Molecule |
