Matter can be classified using these terms:

What’s the matter?

Matter

Mixture Pure substanceA physical blend of two or more different elements and/or compounds.

Has no chemical bonds between the different elements and/or compounds.

Has a definite and constant composition.

Will have a constant appearance, colour, and density throughout a given sample.

Matter

Mixture Pure substanceThe different elements and/or compounds do not exist in fixed proportions to each other.

Often retains many of the properties of its different elements and/or compounds.

Can be either an element or a compound.

Cannot be separated into simpler substances by physical means.

Matter

Mixture Pure substanceCan potentially be separated by physical means, for example, evaporation.

For example: Salt water (H2O, Na+, and Cl-), an oil and water mixture, or a sulfur and iron filings mixture.

For example, water (H2O), a tank of hydrogen gas (H2), or a piece of magnesium metal (Mg).

Pure substanceElement Compound

Consists of only one type of atom.

May contain isotopes.

Consists of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds.

Can be separated by a chemical reaction but not my physical means.

Always contains the same ratio of its component atoms.

Pure substanceElement Compound

For example, a piece of graphite that consists of the isotopes 12-C and 13-C, a piece of magnesium.

Properties are usually very different from the properties of the elements they contain.

For example, water (H2O), table salt (NaCl), table sugar (C12H22O11) or chalk (CaCO3).

Element

Atoms MoleculesParticles that contain the sub-atomic particles protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Molecules of elements consist of two or more atoms of the same element that are chemically bound together.

The two or more bound atoms of a molecule move as a unit.

CompoundsMolecules Ions

Molecules of compounds consist of two or more atoms of different elements that are chemically bound together.

The two or more bound atoms of a molecule move as a unit.

An atom with a net positive or negative charge.

Ions in ionic compounds are held together by the electrostatic forces between oppositely charged bodies.

Matter can be classified using these terms:

What’s the matter?

Matter

Mixture Pure substance

Element Compound

Atoms Molecules Molecules Ions