What is matter? You can say that matter is anything that has mass, or anything that takes up space, which is volume. Matter has many different properties; it can be broken up into two different and broad categories, pure substances, and mixtures.
Pure Substances has only one set of properties, as well as only one type of particle. Even if there are physical or chemical processes, a pure substance cannot be separated into other types of matter.
Elements cannot be decomposed because it is already in its simplest form. Although one element may have similar properties to other elements, it is still impossible for two different elements to be exactly alike. Elements are made of atoms which can be made into 3 more categories, metal, non-metal, and metalloids. Metal is a chemical element, and it conducts electricity and heat well. Metal forms cations and ionic bonds with non-metals. Non-metals do not conduct electricity or heat very well. Unlike metals, non-metals are very brittle. Metalloids have both properties similar to both metals and non-metals; some metalloids carry an electrical charge under special conditions.
Compounds are another category of pure substances. In a chemical compound, there are two or more elements that are combined chemically. In a compound, the molecule is the smallest particle; it contains multiple atoms of an element. Molecules can be split into 2 categories, ionic, and covalent. An ionic bond bonds a metal and non-metal ion together by electrostatic attraction. The ions have opposite charges, so that is what causes the attraction. A covalent bond bonds by sharing the pairs of electrons. They share the electrons between atoms and other covalent bonds. The bond is stable and balances because of the attractive and repulsive forces.
Mixtures have more than one set of properties and substances. The chemicals are not chemically united, but a mixture still is a combination of two ore more substances. Mixtures can be broken down into homogeneous and heterogeneous. The prefix “homo” means sameness, so a homogeneous mixture is uniform; it has the same appearance and composition throughout the processes. Many people call homogeneous mixtures a solution. The particles in homogeneous mixtures are too tiny to be seen. Also, in a homogeneous mixture, it seems that there is only one component. The prefix “hetero” indicates difference. A heterogeneous mixture has substances or phases that are visibly different. The particles that are in a heterogeneous mixture are larger and more visible. Also, in the heterogeneous mixture it seems to have one or more component.
In physical changes, no new substances are formed, and the chemical composition does not change. This kind of change is not reversible. Unlike physical changes, chemical changes are irreversible. New substance can be produced as a result of a chemical change
This video can help you understand the different states of matter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBQcpF_j5Xg&feature=related
This Website can give you a general idea of what Matter really is.
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_intro.html
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