Physical Nature of Matter

Last updated at April 16, 2024 by

Important Physical Properties of matter

  • Matter is made up of particles
  • The particles are very small in size
  • These particles have spaces between them
  • These particles are constantly moving
  • Particles attract each other
  • There are 3 states of Matter - Solids, Liquids and Gases
  • Matter can change state from one form to another

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Old and New School of Thought


As per Old School of thought

  • Matter is Made up of continuous particles
    Example like a block of wood

As per New school of thought

  • Matter is made up of small particles like sand

 

Difference between Physical and Chemical Properties



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Properties that can be measured without changing the composition of the substance

Properties that define the ability of a substance to react and form new substances

These include color, malleability, ductility, conductivity, hardness, melting point, boiling point, density

These include rusting, burning, rotting, oxidizing, reducing, decomposing, exploding

Example:

  • Iron is a good conductor of electricity
  • The melting point of Hydrogen is −259.16°C
  • The density of Sodium is 0.97 g.cm -3 at 20 °C

Example

  • Iron undergoes rusting to form Iron(III) Oxide in the presence of Oxygen and water
  • At 500 °C , in the presence of spark, heat or sunlight, Hydrogen explodes
  • Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and hydrogen gas

 

 

Summary

Hence, we can see matter is made up of small particles.

  • Some of these particles mix with each other o r dissolve with each other
  • But particles in some objects cannot mix - like wood and salt won't mix

 

Lets look at the Characteristics of Particles of Matter

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo