Classification Of Matter

Classification of matter Matter can be classified into two categories: pure substances and mixtures. This classification is based on the internal composition of that matter. Using composition to describe matter is better than using its state, because the internal makeup makes matter unique, and not its phase or state. Example, water (H2O) can be vapor, solid or the usual liquid. This means that scientifically, it is not correct to say water is a liquid, even though we all know that water is usually a liquid. In a similar vein, classifying matter only according to its color, size, or weight is not enough because two identical objects can be of the same color, but their internal makeup may be different. Example, a glass of water from a lake may look and weigh the same as another identical glass of water from another lake — but it does not mean they are the same. They are all water, but the chemical compositions may be very different. So, in this lesson, we shall see more about the classifications and the various ways and forms in which matter is made up, mixed up and if they can be separated at all. First, it is very important to be very clear what some words mean. Let us begin with ‘Elements’ Elements An element is a substance made from only one type of atom. For example, Oxygen (O2) is an element made up of ONLY oxygen atoms. To understand this better, let us see the how atoms behave. Every element is made up of atoms. Atoms are the smallest piece that can exist in an element. You will need to put millions of atoms together to get an element of about half millimeter in size. An atom is made up of ‘Electrons, Protons and Neutrons’. The diagram on your left is an illustration of an atom. The center part is the nucleus. Atoms in some elements do not join up with other atoms of the same element. An example is Helium. Helium atoms exist alone and can look like this: Some atoms can also join up with other atoms of the same element. When two or more atoms join up, they form a molecule. Oxygen, (O2) is a molecule because it has two atoms joined together. An oxygen molecule looks like those in the diagram above. Elements are pure in nature. They may vary in size as long as the atoms joining to make its molecules are the same. As soon as a different atom joins (bonds), it ceases to be an element — it is now a compound. Sometimes, atoms can join up with other atoms of other elements in chemical bonds. When that happens, a compound is formed. This means that a molecule can be made up of two atoms of the same element, OR can be made up more atoms of different elements. Compounds A compound is a substance made from two or more elements that have reacted chemically with each other. The elements in the compound can NOT be separated by physical means. Let us see this example below:  Water is a compound. It is written as H2O. This means it is a chemical bond of two elements—Hydrogen and Oxygen. It is written as H2O because there are two atoms of Hydrogen, making it a hydrogen molecule, bonding with one atom of Oxygen. Note that there are so many ways that molecules of elements join together, forming millions of compounds. All compounds are molecules but not all molecules are compounds. It is also important to note that compounds do not necessarily look like the elements that formed it. Compounds are usually a result of a chemical reaction or bond, which means that they are entirely new materials. For example, Hydrogen and Oxygen elements are both gases, but after bonding chemically, they form water, which is liquid at room temperature. Another good example is Iron sulfide, a compound formed from bonding two elements— iron and sulfur. Iron is silvery grey and can be attracted to a magnet. Sulfur is yellow and cannot be attracted to a magnet. In this chemical bond, sulfur and iron are mixed up and heated. The result is a compound, iron sulfide, which is black and not attracted to magnets. The above is a diagram of the compound. Substances A substance is simply matter with definite chemical composition and distinct properties. It is matter that is characterized by a constant composition in terms of its molecules, formulae and atoms, as well as physical properties such as density, refractive index, electric conductivity, melting point, and so on. A substance can be an element or a compound but NOT a mixture. It can also be matter that exists in its pure form, usually called a pure substance. A few examples of substances include Water (H2O), Hydrogen (H2) and Neon (Ne). Other examples of chemical substances commonly seen in pure form are salt (sodium chloride), diamond (carbon) and gold. The diagram above shows the classification of matter and where substances fit. Substances cannot be separated into components by physical separation techniques. Some substances, like water, can be broken down into elements by a chemical reaction (to break chemical bonds). A substance can be solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. What is a Mixture A mixture is formed of little bits of one or more substances mixed together. Usually, the parts can be separated from each other by physical means, because it does not involve any chemical reactions or bonds. Types of Mixtures A mixture can involve two or more substances of the same phase or different phases. For example you can mix water and sand (liquid and solid), sugar and salt (solid and solid), water and oil (liquid and liquid) or nitrogen and oxygen (gas and gas). Clearly, mixtures can vary a lot and can be homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous mixture: Mixtures involve mixing substances, so let us first be clear what a homogenous substance is. When a sample of matter has the same composition throughout, we call that substance a homogeneous substance. A cup of water will have the same chemical composition throughout (H2O). That makes it a homogeneous substance. A piece of gold will also have the same chemical composition, making it a homogenous substance. Homogeneous Mixtures behave in a similar way — the substance formed appear to have the same chemical composition. Alloys and Solutions are Homogeneous mixtures.  Heterogeneous Mixture A mixture can also result in two or more phases clearly separated by boundaries. Very often, the separation can be clearly seen by the eye. A heterogeneous mixture is one that does not have uniform properties and composition. Take a look at a bowl of cereal with nuts. A spoon full will surely have a different number of nuts than a second spoonful taken at random. Another example—take some sea-sand into your palms. Look at it closely and you will notice that some sand particles are bigger than others, and the colors of some particles may be different too.