“The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility…. The fact that it is comprehensible is a miracle.”

Albert EinsteinPhysics and Reality

March 1936

Classification of Matter

Classification by Physical State

MATTER

Gases

Liquids

Solids

Plasma

Example of Plasma:

Lightning

Example of Plasma:

Flame

Example of Plasma:

Saturn’s Rings

Plasma• Plasma is ionized gas.

Originally called “radiant matter”

• Plasmas comprise the most common phase of matter.

Estimates suggest that 99% of the entire visible universe is plasma.

Space between the stars is filled with a plasma.

Essentially the entire volume of the universe is plasma.

Plasma

Plasma Bulb

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29

Plasma: St. Elmo’s Fire

St. Elmo’s Fire

• Electro-luminescent corona discharge caused by the ionization of the air during thunderstorms.

• St. Elmo's Fire is named after St. Elmo, the patron saint of sailors who sometimes take its appearance to be auspicious.

Classification by Phases Present

Matter

Homogeneous

Heterogeneous

Colloidal

Classification by Composition

MATTER

Pure SubstancesMixtures

Homogeneous

ColloidalCompounds

Elements

Heterogeneous

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

“I now mean by elements … certain primitive, and simple or perfectly unmingled bodies…”

Robert Boyle

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements“… not being made of other bodies…”

Robert Boyle

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

Translation:

Elements cannot bedecomposed into simplersubstances.

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

“… the ingredients of whichall those perfectly mixt bodies are immediatelycompounded…”

Robert Boyle

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

Translation:

Compounds result from combination, in a definiteproportion, of two or more elements.

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements“… and into which they are ultimately resolved…”

Robert Boyle

Pure Substances

Compounds

ElementsTranslation:

Compounds can be broken down into elements.

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

A compound consists of two or more elements in a definite proportion by mass.

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

A compound may be decomposed into its constituent elements.

Pure Substances

Compounds

Elements

As of 2005, there are 116 known elements:

• 93 occur naturally on earth (including technetium and plutonium)

• 94 (including promethium) have been detected so far in the universe

• 23 elements not found on earth are derived artificiallyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element

Pure Substances

Compounds

ElementsAs of June 21, 2006, there were

28,399,889

substances in the CAS registry.

Around 50,000 new numbers are added each week. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAS_number

Classification by Composition

MATTER

Pure SubstancesMixtures

Homogeneous

ColloidalCompounds

Elements

Heterogeneous

Classification by Composition

Mixtures

Homogeneous

Colloidal

Heterogeneous

Also called solutions

Classification by Composition

Mixtures

Mixture of elements

Mixture of elements and compounds

Mixture of compounds

Question

Are all pure substances homogeneous?

Ice and water

Is it a mixture?

Is it homogeneous?

Question

What is the difference between water, a compound consisting of hydrogen and oxygen, and a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen?

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Mixture

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

Definite composition

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

Definite composition Composition may be varied

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

Definite composition Composition may be varied

At room temperature, a LIQUID

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

Definite composition Composition may be varied

At room temperature, a LIQUID

At room temperature, a GAS.

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

Definite composition Composition may be varied

At room temperature, a LIQUID

At room temperature, a GAS.

Can put out a fire.

WaterMixture of hydrogen

and oxygen

Compound Mixture

Definite composition Composition may be varied

At room temperature, a LIQUID

At room temperature, a GAS.

Can put out a fire. Explosive mixture.

END