g16.    What is matter?

All materials, both biotic and abiotic, are amalgamations of chemicals. The 117 (almost) known chemicals; 92 occur naturally (See the Pictorial Periodic Table) build matter. Matter (solids, liquids, gases) is anything that has mass and takes up space. Matter is found in 3 chemical forms: elements, compounds, and mixtures. Elements are made of 3 types of building blocks: (a) atoms are the smallest units of matter; (b) ions are electrically charged atoms; and (c) molecules are collections of atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Atoms and ions form elements. Atoms have subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles within the nucleus of the atom. They have a mass of 1. The atomic number (on the periodic table) is the number of protons in the nucleus and is distinctive to each particular atom. Neutrons are uncharged particles in the nucleus of the atom. They have a mass of 1. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of the atom.  They have a mass of 0. There are normally the same number of electrons and protons in the atom. This makes the atom neutral. The atomic mass of an atom is the total mass of the protons and neutrons. Isotopes of an atom have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons. Ions are formed when an atom gains or loses one or more of its electrons.

Compounds are two or more different elements held together by chemical bonds. Mixtures are combinations of elements, compounds or both.

e13.    What is biomass?

e14.    What are the basic components of life?

e17.    How do organisms use matter?

e18.    Does water recover from pollution?

e22.    What do we eat?

e23.    How is soil important to plants?

m05.    How does recycling paper affect forests?

m41.    How can matter affect the environment?  

m55.    What are the environmental impacts of using up our mineral resources?

m56.    How can we increase mineral resource supplies?

m58.    How can we deal with solid waste?

m61.    Who recycles solids wastes?

m62.    Are there other methods of dealing with solid waste?

m65.    What can cause biological hazards?

m71.    What chemicals pose a danger?

m72.    What are your options for dealing with hazardous materials?

m73.   Are hazardous wastes regulated in the U.S.?

m74.    How is soil important in the environment?

m79.    Where are our water supplies? 

m84.    What do we need to feed the world?