CLASSIFYING
MATTER
Scientists like to classify things.
One way that scientists classify matter is by its
composition.
Ultimately, all matter can be classified as mixtures,
elements and compounds.
Why isn’t it a good idea to classify
matter by its phases?
Because one kind of substance can exist in more
than one phase – such as H20. And matter
changes phases rather easily.
Why isn’t matter classified
according to its physical
characteristics, such as color?
Scientistswouldn’t find it very useful to
group gold, sunflowers, and the sun
together.
Is the matter uniform throughout?
Can it be separated by physical means?
Can it be separated by chemical means?
By asking these questions scientists can classify
matter into:
Mixtures – two or more substances that are not
chemically combined with each other and can be
separated by physical means. The substances in
a mixture retain their individual properties.
Solutions – a special kind of mixture where one
substance dissolves in another.
Elements – simplest form of pure substance. They
cannot be broken into anything else by physical
or chemical means.
Compounds – pure substances that are the unions
of two or more elements. They can be broken into
simpler substances by chemical means.
Is it uniform throughout?
If the answer is no, the matter is a
heterogeneous mixture.
Considered the “least mixed.”
Does not appear to be the same throughout.
Particles are large enough to be seen and to be
separated from the mixture.
Examples of
heterogeneous
mixtures
Sand and pebbles
Oil and water
Powdered iron and powdered sulfur
Granite is a heterogeneous mixture.
Is it uniform throughout?
If the answer is yes, the matter is
homogeneous (looks the same throughout).
That leads us to another question.
Can it be separated by
physical means?
If the answer is yes, the matter is a
homogeneous mixture or solution.
Homogeneous Mixtures
A mixture that appears to be the same throughout.
It is “well mixed.”
The particles that make up the mixture are very
small and not easily recognizable.
Examples of
homogeneous mixtures
Milk, toothpaste, and mayonnaise are homogeneous
mixtures. They are also colloids.
Solutions
A solution is a type of
homogeneous mixture formed
when one substance dissolves in
another.
It is the best mixed of all mixtures.
A solution always has a substance
that is dissolved and a substance
that does the dissolving.
The substance that is dissolved is
the solute and the substance that
does the dissolving is the solvent.
Water as a solvent
Many liquid solutions contain water as the
solvent.
Ocean water is basically a water solution that
contains many salts.
Body fluids are also water solutions.
Types of solutions
Solute Solvent Example
Gas Gas Air (oxygen in nitrogen)
Gas Liquid Soda water (carbon dioxide in water)
Solid Liquid Ocean water (salt in water)
Solid Solid Gold jewelry (copper in gold)
Metals dissolved in
metals are called
alloys.
Can it be separated by
physical means?
If the answer is no, the matter is a pure
substance.
An element
Or a compound
Pure Substances
Law of Definite Composition
A given compound always contains the same, fixed ratio
of elements.
Law of Multiple Proportions
Elements can combine in different ratios to form
different compounds.
Courtesy Christy Johannesson www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/chem
Elements and Compounds
Elements
• Elements contain only one type of atom – elemental
copper contains only copper atoms and elemental gold
contains only gold atoms.
Elements and Compounds
Compounds
• Compounds are substances that contain two or more
different types of atoms.
