Terminology

chemistry = the study of matter and its changes (p. 10)

concentrated solution = a solution with a large number of solute particles in a given volume of solution (pg. 42)

concentration = the amount of solute present in an amount of solution (pg. 43)

D

dilute solution = a solution with a small number of solute particles in a given volume of solution (pg. 42)

dissolve = to mix one type of matter into another type of matter to form a solution (pg. 36)

dissolving = mixing completely with a solvent to form a solution (pg. 36)

distillation = the process of separating liquids in a solution by heating the solution, trapping and cooling the gas, and collecting the resulting liquid (pg. 69)

E

evaporation = the process by which a sample of matter changes from a liquid to a gas (pg. 68)

F

filter = a device with many small holes that trap solid pieces of a mixture but allow liquids and gases to pass through (pg. 60)

filtration = the process of passing a mechanical mixture through a filter to separate out solid pieces from a liquid or gas (pg. 60)

floating = a separation technique in which a "lighter" component rises to the top of a liquid where it can be skimmed or poured off (pg. 59)

G

gas = a state of matter that does not have a definite shape or definite volume; it takes the shape and volume of its container (pg. 15)

H

heterogeneous mixture = see mechanical mixture (pg. 24)

homogeneous mixture = see solution (pg. 25)

I

insoluble = unable to dissolve in a specific solvent (pg. 41)

L

liquid = a state of matter with a definite volume, but no definite shape; it takes the shape of its container (pg. 14)

M

mass = the quantity of matter in an object, commonly measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg) (pg. 272)

matter = anything that takes up space and has mass (pg. 10)

mechanical mixture = a mixture with different parts that you can see; also called a heterogeneous mixture (pg. 24)

mixture = matter that contains two or more pure substances mixed together (pg. 20)

P

particle theory of matter = an explanation of what matter is made of and how it behaves; the particle theory states that all matter is made up of tiny particles:

• that are always moving
• that attract each other, and
• that have spaces between them (pg. 12)

pollution = contaminants in the environment that could harm living things (pg. 39)

pure substance = matter that contains only one kind of particle (pg. 20)

S

saturated solution = a solution in which no more solute can dissolve (pg. 43)

settling = a separation technique in which the "heavier" component sinks to the bottom of a liquid, and the liquid can be poured off (pg. 59)

sewage = the mixture of water and waste that is flushed down toilets and sink drains (pg. 64)

sieve = a device with many visible holes that allow smaller solid pieces and liquids to pass through while blocking larger pieces (pg. 60)

sieving = the process of passing a mechanical mixture through a sieve to separate out the larger pieces of matter (pg. 60)

solid = a state of matter with a definite volume and definite shape (pg. 14)

solubility = a measure of how much solute can dissolve in a certain solvent to form a saturated solution at a particular temperature and volume (pg. 44)

soluble = able to dissolve in a specified solvent (pg. 41)

solute = the smaller part of a solution; the part of the solution that dissolves in the solvent (pg. 36)

solution = a mixture that looks like a pure substance; a uniform mixture of two or more pure substances; also known as homegeneous mixture (pg. 25)

solvent = the larger part of a solution; the part of the solution into which the solute dissolves (pg. 36)

sorting = physically separating large pieces of a mechanical mixture so that similar pieces are together (pg. 58)

U

unsaturated solution = a solution in which more solute can be dissolved (pg. 43)

V

volume = a measure of the quantity of space occupied by an object (pg. 14)