Chemistry · Ch 1 — Basic Concepts of Chemistry and Chemical Calculations
Classification of Matter
Classification of Matter
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space; your desk, the air you breathe, and your own body are all matter, and all matter is built from atoms. To use matter usefully, chemists classify it, and there are two independent, equally valid ways to do this:
- By physical state -- solid, liquid or gas (Section 1.2.1).
- By chemical composition -- pure substance or mixture (Section 1.2.2). …
What this figure shows. A branching classification chart. At the top is 'Matter', which splits into two parallel schemes. The 'Physical classification' branch splits into Solid, Liquid and Gas, each illustrated with the three physical states of water (Ice, Water, Water Vapour). The 'Chemical Classification' branch splits Matter into 'Pure Substances' and 'Mixtures'. Pure Substances further split into 'Elements' (example: Copper) and 'Compounds' (example: Copper Sulphate). Mixtures further split into 'homogeneous' (examp …