Properties of Matter

SC.5.P.8.1: Compare and contrast the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases, such as mass, volume, color, texture, and temperature.

Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight, or mass. Matter can take three states. The three states of matter that we study in elementary are solid, liquid, and gas. Not all matter can change in state between solid, liquid, and gas. In fact, the only matter on Earth that exists in nature in all three states is water. Liquid water can be found in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Solid water (ice and snow) can be found in glaciers high on mountains and in the polar climate zones. Water vapor, the gas form of water, is found in the air we breathe. We can feel water vapor in the air as humidity.

Matter takes up space. The amount of space that an object or material, such as water, takes up is called volume. In science, volume is measured in liters (L) or milliliters (mL). Volume can be measured using a measuring cup or a graduated cylinder. We also use spoons to measure small volumes of materials, such as salt and flour when we cook.

All matter takes up space. The volume of liquids is the easiest to measure. Water, for example, can be poured into a graduated cylinder. The volume of the water can be measured and recorded by reading the level of water in the cylinder. Some solid materials, like salt, sand, and sugar, can also be measured by pouring into a graduated cylinder. The volume of these kinds of solids can be measured using a graduated cylinder. For example, we might measure the volume of sand as 100 ml.

To find the weight, or mass, of solids, we can use a scale. A digital scale is the easiest to use. Turn the scale on, place the solid object on the scale, and measure and record the weight of the object. A rock, for example, can be placed on the scale, and the mass of the rock recorded as 25 grams, or 25 g.

Mass and volume are two very important properties of matter to recognize and to be able to measure and record. For most of elementary science, we will focus on measuring and recording the mass and volume of solids and liquids. Gases also have mass and volume, but measuring those properties is more complex. We will demonstrate that gases also have mass and volume, but we will not focus on measuring those properties.

The Three States of Water

Water can be found in three states on Earth: solid, liquid, and gas. Each of these three states of matter has its own properties. We observed water in solid, liquid, and gas states. We compared and contrasted the properties of water in each of the three states of matter.

Water in a solid form is called ice. Ice is cold in temperature. It has a definite shape. When a piece of ice is moved from one container to another, it will not change its shape. Volume is the amount of space an object takes up. Ice has a definite volume. It will not take up more or less space when it is moved from one container to another. It will take up the same amount of space.

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. We can find the mass, or weight, of an object using a digital scale. Ice does not change its mass when moved from one container to another.

Solids will keep all their physical properties the same. It does not matter if a solid is in a round container, square container, or no container at all: it will have the same size, shape, and weight.

Liquids are different from solids. They will change their shape when they change containers. If water is poured from a round container into a square container, it will take the shape of the new container. Its volume and mass will stay the same. Liquid water is transparent, like clear glass. Liquid water is warmer than ice. Liquid water has no taste or smell. These are all basic properties of liquid water.

Water in a gas state is called water vapor. Water vapor is invisible. It cannot be seen. The individual particles, or molecules, of water as a gas are too small to see. Steam is not water vapor. Steam is liquid water that is made up of droplets that are small enough to float in the air until they change back into a gas.

Gases will expand to fill the container they are in. If the container is open, they will expand to flow out of the container. Water vapor, water in a gas state, is in the air around us all the time. Sometimes there is enough water vapor in the air to feel. The amount of water vapor in the air is called humidity.

These are the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gasses that you should remember:

·      solids: do not change shape, volume, or mass when moved to a new container

·      liquids: will change shape but not volume or mass when moved to a new container

·      gases: will change shape and volume when moved to a new container