Definitions of Chemistry

• Chemistry deals with the properties of materials and the changes these materials undergo. (DLB, 7th Ed., Prentice-Hall)

• Chemistry is a physical science that deals with the composition, structure and properties of substances and the reactions they undergo. As a science, chemistry involves the intuitive and creative application of knowledge gained from experiment observation and theoretical descriptions.

• Anything that bites or scratches is biology

  Anything that stinks or pops is chemistry

  Anything that does not work is physics

Definition of Matter

The two distinguishing characteristics of matter is that matter is classified as anything that has mass and occupies space.

Composition of Matter

• Pure substances

  • matter that has a fixed composition and distinct physical and chemical properties.

    • Atoms

      Matter is composed of atoms.

      • Atoms are the smallest particles of an element that retain the chemical properties of the element.

      • An element is an example of matter which consists of only one kind of atom, either individually or combined into larger units.

    • Molecules

      • Molecules are units of matter consisting of two or more atoms combined in a definite ratio.

      • When the atoms are the same in a molecule the substance is an element.

      • When the atoms are different the substance is considered a compound.

  • We taked about allotropes at this point. An allotrope is a different form of the same element which exists in the same physical state (we'll talk about physical state in Friday's lecture.) The two examples I mentioned were the elements oxygen and carbon. Oxygen and ozone are allotropic forms of that element. Graphite and diamond are allotropic forms of carbon.

    • Mixtures

      combinations of two or more substances where each substances retains its chemical identity (its physical and chemical properties).

      • heterogeneous mixtures do not have the same composition, properties or appearance.

      • homogeneous mixtures do have the same composition, properties or appearance.

Diagram of an STM instrument.

Some STM Images of atoms and or molecules.

Here is another site with STM images.

Characterization of Matter

To characterize matter we use physical and chemical properties.

Physical properties are properties that can be measured and observed without changing the identity of the substance.

1. State(gas, liquid and solid) another example using water

2. Color

3. Melting Point (Important to note that a change in phase, which occurs at the boiling point or melting point of a substance does not necessarily mean a chemical change has occurred.)

4. Boiling Point

5. Density

6. Texture

7. Hardness

   Also important are

8. Mass

9. Volume

   but these properties have less to do with distinguishing between substances.

Examples of physical properties of matter.

	The obvious physical properties are that sulfur is a yellow solid (rhombic sulfur). Less obvious but which we can locate in a reference book or textbook is that sulfur has a melting point of 112.8 C and boils at 444.6 C. Several allotropic forms exist. Orthorombic sulfur density is 2.069 g/cm3, monoclinic (at 95 C) has a density of 1.94 - 2.01 g/cm 3 .
	Silvery, heavy, moveable liquid. Its melting point is -38 C, boiling point is 356 C. It has a very high density at 13.5 g/cm3. Mercury is readily enhaled. It is not so much of a hazard when ingested. Spilled mercury should be cleaned up immediately to prevent long term, low-level exposure.
	Iodine is black looking solid at room temperature and readily forms a violet vapor. The solid has a metallic luster and forms plates or scales. The vapor is corrosive with a sharp odor. Its melting point is 114 C, boiling point is 184 C and it has a density of 4.94 g/cm3. Iodine is not very soluble in hot or cold water, but it is soluble in solvents like alcohol, benzene and ether. Iodine is found in seawater. Ingestion of 2 to 4 grams have been known to be fatal.
	Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is a brownish-red gas at room temperature. It is sealed in the glass tube to confine it and to protect us. Nitrogen dioxide is a poisonous gas. In the Merck Index Nitrogen dioxide is described as an 'insidious gas'. The gas can be fatal at a level of 200 ppm, and dangerous at 100 ppm. Its melting point is -9.3 C and it boils at 21 C. Its density is 3.3 grams/liter.

Chemical properties are also used to characterize matter.

Chemical properties involve the transformation of substances into other substances.

Note: Sample chemical reactions were demonstrated and discussed in class.

Atomic Theory and a Microscopic Model of Matter

It was a gentleman by the name of John Dalton who organized a collection of experimental observations into a theoretical framework. Dalton, who was a meteorologist, had considerable experience with air and wind and the effects of temperature on the volume of a gas. The results of his study of air suggests that his observations could be understood if matter consisted of tiny particles, a sort of submicroscopic billard ball. So Dalton proposed his atomic theory to explain his observations. Each element is made up of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms.

1. All atoms of a given element possess identical properties.

2. Atoms of different elements have different properties.

3. Chemical changes involve the combination, separation or rearrangement of atoms: atoms are neither destroyed, created or changed.

4. When atoms combine they do so in fixed ratios of whole numbers forming particles called molecules.

Click here to view a figure of this microscopic model.

What is the microscopic model of the three phases of matter?

Here is an atomic level exercise from the first Problem Set.

(Note: To run the atomic level exercise the version of Netscape Navigator must be accessorized with the MacroMedia ShockWave Plugin. If Netscape displays a broken icon after clicking on the link above, then you need to download the plugin and install it. To download the plugin go to the Shockwave site and follow the instructions.)