Matter is anything that has weight and volume and occupies space. Materials are the matter or substance from which objects are made. The three basic states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas, and are caused by the different arrangements of matter particles. For example, in a solid state, the particles of the object are very close together, while in a liquid state, the particles are packed densely together but slightly farther spread than in solids. In gases, particles are far away from each other.  Matter can be classified into mixtures and pure substances. Mixtures are materials made of... Show more

Matter is anything that has weight and volume and occupies space. Materials are the matter or substance from which objects are made. The three basic states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas, and are caused by the different arrangements of matter particles. For example, in a solid state, the particles of the object are very close together, while in a liquid state, the particles are packed densely together but slightly farther spread than in solids. In gases, particles are far away from each other. 

Matter can be classified into mixtures and pure substances. Mixtures are materials made of different substances mixed together, such as air, which is a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases. Pure substances can be divided into elements and compounds. Elements are materials that are the same throughout, such as gold or silver. Compounds are substances made of molecules, each of which is made up of two or more different types of atoms. Salt (sodium chloride) is a compound. 

The four properties of material are hardness, malleability, ductility, and good conductors of heat and electricity. 

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