Lesson 7 — Activity 1: Matter, Atoms, and Molecules
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Lesson 7 — Activity 1:
Matter, Atoms, and Molecules
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Matter can be described as any object that occupies space and has weight and mass. It is always found in one of three states: solid, liquid or gas; but no matter which state it is in, matter is made up of microscopic particles called atoms. When two or more atoms combine, they make a molecule. In this activity, you will learn more about matter, atoms, and molecules!
Objects
that take up space and have mass are called matter. Everything around
you is made up of matter. For example, an apple is matter, water is
matter, and air is matter. Even you are made up of matter!
Look all around you. You can see matter makes up the walls of your house and your classroom. Matter is large and matter is small.
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Matter exists in three states: solids, liquids and gases.
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Examples
Solids: ice cubes
Liquids: water
Gases: steam
Solids: ice cubes
Liquids: water
Gases: steam
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In solids, particles are close together.
In water, particles are not close together.
In gases, particles are far apart and move freely.
Particle Theory of Matter
- Matter is made up of tiny particles.
- Every type of pure matter (not mixed with anything) is made of its own unique particles.
- The particles in matter are attracted to one another and stick together.
- The particles in matter are always moving (even in solids).
- When matter is warm, the particles move faster and when matter is cold, the particles move more slowly.
Digging Deeper
Click here to go to the Study Jams! website to watch a video to learn more about the states of matter. When you have finished watching the video, click on the "close" button in the upper-right hand corner to exit the video. Then, click on the "Test Yourself" button to see how much you know about matter.
All matter is made of very tiny particles called atoms. When atoms of all the same type are joined together, they are called elements. Sometimes atoms of different elements are joined together to make molecules.
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You have
more than likely heard about these substances: helium gas, iron, silver,
and gold. These are all examples of elements.
An element is a pure
substance that contains nothing else in it. For example, a pure sample
of gold would only have gold in it. You probably think of all of the
items listed above as being something that is a fair size: a balloon
full of helium, an iron bar, or perhaps a silver or gold necklace.
However, they are all made up of really tiny particles.
Everything
you can see and even things that are too small to see with the naked
eye are made up of tiny particles called atoms. An atom is the smallest
unit of an element. All atoms of a certain element have the same mass,
and no two different elements have the same mass. For example, the mass
of an atom of iron is 55.8 g/mol while the mass of an atom of gold is
197.0 g/mol.
You have more than likely heard about these substances: helium gas, iron, silver, and gold. These are all examples of elements.
An element is a pure substance that contains nothing else in it. For example, a pure sample of gold would only have gold in it. You probably think of all of the items listed above as being something that is a fair size: a balloon full of helium, an iron bar, or perhaps a silver or gold necklace. However, they are all made up of really tiny particles.
Everything you can see and even things that are too small to see with the naked eye are made up of tiny particles called atoms. An atom is the smallest unit of an element. All atoms of a certain element have the same mass, and no two different elements have the same mass. For example, the mass of an atom of iron is 55.8 g/mol while the mass of an atom of gold is 197.0 g/mol.
A
molecule is a chemical made up of two or more atoms. The atoms in a
molecule can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or
different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom).
Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many
thousands of atoms.
A
molecule is a chemical made up of two or more atoms. The atoms in a
molecule can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or
different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom).
Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many
thousands of atoms.
As you can see, molecules can be very small or they can be very large. We can also use circles to make simple pictures of molecules.
A water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
For example, a water molecule could be drawn like this.
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A glucose molecule has 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms.
A molecule of glucose (sugar) may look like this:
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Click on the Play button to watch a video that further explains atoms, elements, and molecules.
Click on the Play button to watch a video that further explains atoms, elements, and molecules.