Chapter 1 · Chemistry
What is Matter?
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Anything that has mass and takes up space is matter, even the air you cannot see.
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Particles of MatterMatter looks continuous, but it is made of extremely small particles. Two crystals of potassium permanganate can colour glass after glass of water.Chemistry
Key points
- Matter = anything that has mass and occupies space (volume).
- Air is matter: it fills a balloon and has mass.
- Light, sound, heat and feelings are not matter.
- SI unit of mass: kg; of volume: m³ (1 L = 1 dm³ = 1000 mL).
Mass plus space
A pencil, water, food, stones, steam and your own body are all matter: each has mass and occupies space. Both conditions must be true.
| Term | Meaning | SI unit |
|---|---|---|
| Matter | Anything that has mass and occupies space | – |
| Mass | The amount of matter in an object | kilogram (kg) |
| Volume | The space an object occupies | cubic metre (m³); also litre (L), 1 L = 1 dm³ = 1000 mL |
Is air matter? Two tests
- Space: blow air into a balloon. It swells, so air occupies space.
- Mass: balance a full and an empty balloon on a metre stick. It tips towards the full one, so air has mass.
Matter and not matter
| Matter | Not matter |
|---|---|
| Pencil, water, food, air, our body, stones, steam | Light, sound, heat, feelings, thoughts |
Common mistakes: only things we can see are matter (air is invisible but is matter); sound is matter (sound travels through matter, it is not matter); mixing up mass and volume (a balloon can have a large volume but a small mass).
Quick quiz
5 questions. Choose an answer for each, then submit to see your score and the explanations.
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