Properties of Matter

[2025-12-01 Mon]

1. All matter can be described by its properties:

Colour, texture, viscosity
Volume, mass, temperature

Some properties of matter will change depending on the size or temperature of the substance. These are called noncharacteristic properties. Properties that do not change no matter are called characteristic Physical properties of matter. They are unique to a particular substance.

1.1. Examples

Density–No substances have the same density at room temperature
Boiling point
Freezing point
Melting point

1.2. Density

(see: Density Test from 2024-2025). Density is the ratio of mass to volume.

\begin{equation}{\frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}} = \text{Density} \end{equation} \begin{equation}\text{Density} \cdot \text{Volume} = \text{Mass} \end{equation} \begin{equation}{\frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Density}}} = \text{Volume} \end{equation}

1.2.1. Expansion

When temperature increases, the volume of a substance increases as the particles get further apart

1.2.2. Contraction

When temperature decreases, the volume decreases as particles are pushed closer together.

The unusual behavior of water:

Water is an exception to the rule of expansion and contraction. When ice forms the particles form a special structure called a "crystal lattice" which is less dense than liquid water.

1.2.3. GRASP

G=Given
R=Required
A=Analysis
S=Solution
P=Paraphrase