knowverseWhat is matter made of? Anything with mass and volume is matter, and all of it is built from atoms. The quiz covers states of matter, homogeneous mixtures, atomic structure, and the protons, neutrons and electrons inside an atom. Try the questions to check your understanding.
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Matter is scientifically defined by having mass and occupying physical space, which is volume.
Consider a simple wooden chair; it has mass because it is heavy to lift, and it takes up space in your room.
From the Knowverse course text.
Physical properties, such as mass or color, can be observed and measured without changing the chemical identity of the substance.
A key rule is that observing a physical property does not change the identity of the substance.
From the Knowverse course text.
Gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume; they expand or contract to fill the entire container.
A gas has no definite shape. Like a liquid, it takes the shape of its container, but it goes even further. A gas also has no definite volume.
From the Knowverse course text.
A homogeneous mixture is a physical blend of two or more substances where the composition is completely uniform throughout, such as dissolved saltwater.
This is a homogeneous mixture, which is a blend that is uniform in composition throughout.
From the Knowverse course text.
An atom is the fundamental building block of matter and the smallest unit of an element that keeps the properties of that element.
Each atom is the smallest unit of a specific material that still keeps the unique properties of that material.
From the Knowverse course text.
The number of protons in the nucleus defines the element's identity and cannot be altered without changing the element itself.
What makes one substance different from another is simply the number of protons inside its nucleus. This count is the 'ID number' of the atom and determines its identity as a specific element.
From the Knowverse course text.
The nucleus is tiny compared to the atom as a whole, yet it contains nearly all the atom's total mass.
Even though this center is very small, it contains almost all the mass of the entire atom. Because so much weight is packed into such a small space, the nucleus is described as being extremely dense.
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Isotopes are versions of an element that contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, giving them different masses.
Because neutrons can be added without changing the element, atoms of the same element can exist in different weights. We call these different versions isotopes.
From the Knowverse course text.
The mass number represents the sum of heavy particles in the nucleus: protons plus neutrons.
This total count of protons and neutrons is called the mass number.
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An ion forms when a neutral atom gains or loses electrons, creating an overall positive or negative electrical charge.
When an atom loses its balance of electrons, it becomes a charged particle called an ion.
From the Knowverse course text.
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Matter makes up all physical items, from heavy wooden chairs to the air filling a balloon. To be classified as matter, an object must possess mass and occupy volume. Mass quantifies the amount of material present, while volume measures the physical space it fills. Scientists describe matter through physical properties, which can be observed without altering the material's chemical identity.
Slicing an apple changes its shape and size, but the sliced pieces remain apple.
Matter is the scientific term for all the 'stuff' that makes up the physical world around us.
From the Knowverse course text.
Matter exists in distinct physical states based on shape and volume. Solids maintain a definite shape and volume. Liquids maintain a definite volume but flow to match the shape of their container. Gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume, expanding to fill whatever vessel holds them. Pure substances maintain a uniform, unchanging composition.
In contrast, mixtures blend two or more pure substances physically, allowing separation through physical methods like boiling saltwater to recover solid salt.
A gas has no definite shape. Like a liquid, it takes the shape of its container, but it goes even further. A gas also has no definite volume.
From the Knowverse course text.
Matter is not continuous; it consists of discrete particles called atoms. An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains that element's chemical properties. At the center of an atom lies the nucleus, a dense core packing nearly all the atom's mass. The nucleus contains protons, which carry positive electrical charges.
The number of protons serves as an atomic identification number. Changing the proton count changes the element itself.
At the very center of every atom lies a tiny, incredibly crowded area called the nucleus.
From the Knowverse course text.
Along with protons, atomic nuclei contain neutrons, which carry mass without electrical charge. Atoms of the same element with different neutron counts are called isotopes. Adding protons and neutrons together yields the atom's mass number. Orbiting outside the nucleus are electrons, which carry negative charges. A neutral atom has equal counts of protons and electrons.
When an atom loses or gains electrons, it forms an electrically charged particle called an ion.
When an atom loses its balance of electrons, it becomes a charged particle called an ion.
From the Knowverse course text.
Sources: The Building Blocks of Matter. Each question or step includes an excerpt from the course.
