NATURAL SCIENCES

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UNIT 2: PROPERTIES OF MATTER

What is matter?
Matter is anything that has mass, occupies volume and has properties that we
can measure.
All objects around us occupy space, but its not always clearly defined. For
example, trees and stones have very clearly-defined boundaries, but water and the
ground do not.

Properties of matter
They describe it and identify it; they can be:

Extensive properties: these depend on the amount of matter that is present, for
example, mass, volume and size.
Intensive properties: these dont depend on the amount of matter that is
present, for example colour, hardness, smoothness, luster and taste. They allow
us to differentiate between two different substances.
What is measurement?

Measurement is a method of determining how much there is of a specific

quantity (such as length or capacity) relative to an established standard unit of
measurement (for example, a metre). To do that, we need and appropriate instrument.
The properties that we can measure are quantitative properties. Those we cant
count or measure, such as smell, taste, lustre or smoothness are qualitative properties;
these properties dont have a standard unit of measurement.
Activities
1) Put the words in order to make questions. Then ask and answer the questions with a
partner.
a) are / of matter / the properties / What / ?
b) we need / What / do / things / to measure / ?
c) between a quantitative / is / and a qualitative property / the difference / What / ?
2) Are the following properties of matter intensive or extensive? Which of them can we
measure?

smell

height

volume

lustre

mass

colour

width

3) Classify the properties from the previous activity as quantitative or qualitative.

4) Answer this question: can we always believe our senses (eyes, ears, etc.) or is it
better to measure things?
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Quantities and units

A quantity is defined as anything that can be measured, such as length, time,
mass, temperature or force.
A unit of measurement is a standard used to measure a quantity.
Quantities are represented by symbols. For example, mass is represented by the
letter m and temperature by the letter T.
Measurements are expressed by a number together with the unit of the quantity
that we are measuring: for example, David is 1.78 m (metres) (and thats true!).
The international system of units
A system of units is a scientific method of expressing the values of quantities
using their units of measurement. We use the International System of Units (SI).
However, sometimes these units are too big or too small, so multiples and fractions are
used instead.

QUANTITY
Name

Symbol

Lenght
Mass
Time
Temperature
Force
Electric Charge

Unit
Kilometre
Hectometre
Decametre
Metre
Decimetre
Centimetre
Millimetre

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT
Name

l
m
t
T
F
Q

Metre
Kilogram
Second
Kelvin
Newton
Coulomb

LENGHT
Symbol
Equivalent
km
1 km = 1 000 m
hm
dam
m
dm
cm
mm

Symbol

Unit

1 hm = 100 m
1 dam = 10 m
1m
1 dm = 0.1 m
1 cm = 0.01 cm
1 mm = 0.001 m

m
kg
s
K
N
C

MASS
Symbol

Equivalent

Kilogram
Hectogram

kg
hg

1 kg
1 hg = 0.1 kg

Decagram
Gram
Decigram
Centigram
Milligram

dag
g
dg
cg
mg

1 dag = 0.01 kg
1 g = 0.001 kg
1 dg = 0.0001 kg
1 cg = 0.00001 kg
1 mg = 0.000001 kg

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Unit

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AREA
Symbol
2

Equivalent
2

Square kilometre
Square hectometre
Square decametre

km
hm2
dam2

1 km = 1 000 000 m2
1 hm2 = 10 000 m2
1 dam2 = 100 m2

Square metre
Square decimetre
Square centimetre

m2
dm2
cm2

1m2
1 dm2 = 0.01 m2
1 cm2 = 0.0001 cm2

Square millimetre

mm2

1 mm2 = 0.000 001 m2

Activities
1) Name three properties of matter that can be measured and three that cannot. Is taste a
quantity?
2) Calculate the following unit conversions.
a) 150 mg to kg
e) 360 000cm to km
b) 150 000 g to kg
f) 0.02 mg to g
c) 0.35 dag to mg
g) 4 836 000 dm to hm
d) 0.07 kg to g
h) 103 m2 to dam2
3) Choose the correct words. Cross out the wrong ones.
A system of symbols / units is a scientific method to express the values of forces /
quantities. In 1960 all the countries in the world decided to adopt the International /
National System of Units. Sometimes the SI units are too tall / big or too small, so
instead, kilometres / multiples and fractions / kelvins are used.

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Mass, Volume and Density

Mass is the amount of matter in something; it is an extensive property; its SI unit

of measurement is the kilogram (kg).
Volume is the amount of space occupied by something; it is also an extensive
property; its SI unit of measurement of volume is the cubic metre (m3). As sometimes
the cubic metre (m3) is too big for many measurements, the cubic decimetre (dm3) or the
cubic centimetre (cm3) is used instead.
Capacity is the maximum amount (volume) something can contain. Containers
for measuring liquids or small solids, such as grain or soil, are graduated so that we can
measure the volume they contain; the SI unit we use more often is the litre (l).
VOLUME
Symbol

Unit

Equivalent
3

Cubic kilometre
Cubic hectometre
Cubic decametre

km
hm3
dam3

1 km = 1 000 000 000 m

1 hm3 = 10 000 000 m3
1 dam3 = 1000 m3

Cubic metre
Cubic decimetre
Cubic centimetre

m3
dm3
cm3

1 m3
1 dm3 = 0.001 m3
1 cm3 = 0.000 0001 cm3

Cubic millimetre

mm3

1 mm3 = 0.000 000 001 m3

Unit
Kilolitre
Hectolitre
Decalitre
litre
Decilitre
Centilitre
Millilitre

CAPACITY
Symbol
Equivalent
kL
1 kL = 1 000 L
hL
daL
L
dL
cL
mL

1 hL = 100 m
1 daL= 10 m
1L
1 dL = 0.1 L
1 cL = 0.01 L
1 mL= 0.001 L

A substances density is equal to the ratio of its mass to its volume; it is an

intensive property.
Density = mass_
volume
At 4C, 1 L of distilled water has a mass of approximately 1kg. The unit of
density is the unit of mass divided by the unit of volume. For example, the density of
water is 1 kg/L. As the SI unit for density is kg/m3 the density of water is 1 000 kg/m3
in the SI. This unit is often too big, thats why we use smaller units, such as g/cm3, or
kg/L, which we have already used.
Activities
1) Put the words in order to make questions. Then ask and answer the questions with a
partner.
a) of a liquid / we / measure / How / the mass/ do / and of a gas / ?
b) is / to measure it / density / What / are used / and what SI units / ?
c) or the seawater in a bucket / has /greater density / : all the seawater in a sea / Which/?
d) occupy / 1kg of straw / Does / as 1 kg of lead / the same volume / ?
2) Mercury is denser than water. Which occupies more volume: 1 kg of mercury or 1 kg
of water?
3) Are the following properties intensive or extensive?
- Fragility
- Volume
- Smell
-Density

-Mass

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