Big+Idea+5-7+Matter

Matter has observable physical properties and the potential to mix and form new materials.
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 * All matter is made up of atoms, which are far too small to see directly through a microscope.
 * Atoms are always in motion with the smallest motion in solids and the largest motion in gases.
 * Elements are the basic building blocks of matter that cannot be broken down chemically and are made up all of the same type of atoms.
 * There are over one hundred known elements each with characteristic properties from which all other matter is made.
 * There are groups of elements that have similar properties including highly reactive metals, less reactive metals, highly reactive nonmetals, and some almost completely non-reactive gasses.
 * A substance has characteristic properties such as density, boiling point, freezing point, solubility, all of which are independent of the mass or volume of the sample.
 * Materials are characterized by having a specific amount of mass in each unit of volume (density).
 * Changing the state of matter may change its density but not its composition.
 * When two or more substances are combined, they may form a mixture and maintain their original properties or they may react chemically to form a new substance with new properties.
 * Compounds may only be broken down into simpler types of matter (elements) by chemical means.