Physical and Chemical Classification of Matter

Matter is classified based on its physical and chemical properties. Matter is anything that possesses mass and occupies space. Based on the physical state, matter is primarily classified into three types, namely, solid, liquid and gases. In solids, the particles are closely packed together. In liquids, the particles are loosely packed together whereas, in gases, the particles are very loosely packed. Based on chemical states, matter is classified depending on the chemical composition, namely, homogenous and heterogeneous.

Key Takeaways: Physical classification, Chemical classification, Matter, Solid, Liquid, Gas, Homogeneous, Heterogeneous.

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What is Matter?

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Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. In physical terms matter can be classified primarily into 3 states, such as,

• Solids
• Liquids 
• Gases

Recent scientific study has added two more states of matter such as Plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate.

In chemical terms, matter is classified into two types based on their chemical composition, such as,

• Homogeneous mixture
• Heterogeneous mixture.

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Physical Classification

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Physical classification is the most basic classification of matter. Physically matters are classified into 

1. Solid State: Substances that are rigid and possess a definite shape. Examples: chair, book, pen, table, etc. 
2. Liquid State: Substances that can flow and can occupy the shape of the container that it occupies. Examples: Water, kerosene, drinks, etc. 
3. Gaseous State: Substances that can both take the shape and volume of the container that it occupies. Examples: Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, etc. 

Physical Classification of Matter

Here is a tabular description of the basic differences between solids, liquids and gases 

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Chemical Classification

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Matters are classified chemically into two. 

• Homogenous: Materials that have a uniform composition and identical properties throughout or materials that only have one phase. 
• Heterogenous: Materials that have a number of phases whose different phases can be separated from each other by distinct boundaries. 

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What are Mixtures? 

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A substance when it contains different matter in varying amounts that make up its composition is called a mixture. Mixtures can be separated using physical processes such as evaporation, condensation, sublimation, etc. Mixtures can further be classified into two:

• Heterogeneous Mixture: These are mixtures whose constituent particles can be separated. For example, if we add sand to water, we can easily remove these two by just filtration process.
• Homogenous Mixture: Homogeneous mixtures are those whose compositions are thoroughly mixed and take complex physical processes to separate. For example, sugar dissolved in water. 

Homogeneous and Heterogeneous mixture

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What are Pure Substances?

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Substances that have a constant composition are called pure substances. All the components of the pure substance are composed of the same kind of particles and properties. For example, any sample of sucrose (sugar) will have 6.5% hydrogen, 42.1% carbon and 51.4% oxygen by mass. Any sample of sucrose will also have the same physical characteristics as well, such as colour, sweetness, melting point, etc. Pure substances are further classified into two: Elements and Compounds.

Elements

Elements are pure substances where it is impossible to further break down pure substances into simpler substances with the help of chemical changes. Some common examples of elements include gold, silver, iron, aluminium, oxygen, etc. There are about 100 elements that exist out of which about 90 are naturally occurring. All the elements are arranged according to their atomic numbers in the periodic table.

Types of Elements

Elements can be further classified into three based on their nature. 

• Metals: A shiny, malleable, ductile solid which is capable of conducting heat and electricity. 
• Non-Metals: Substances that are not malleable, shiny or ductile.
• Metalloids: Substances that show properties that are between that of metals and non-metals. 

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Compounds

Pure substances that can be further broken down into simpler substances using chemical changes are called compounds. Such breakdown can either result in the formation of either elements or other compounds themselves. An example of a compound is Mercury(II)Oxide. Mercury(II)Oxide is a crystalline, orange in colour solid. Using heat, it can be broken down into elements mercury and oxygen.

Types of Compounds

Compounds can be further divided into two categories. 

• Organic Compounds: Organic compounds are matters that contain organic natural occurring substances like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, etc. They can be obtained from plants and animals. 
• Inorganic Compounds: Compounds that contain elements that contain something other than the known 114 elements. 

Classification of Chemical Substance

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Atoms and Molecules

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• Atoms can be referred to as the smallest particle of an element that may or may not be able to exist independently.
• They exhibit the properties of the element that can participate in chemical reactions.
• Atoms of iron, gold, silver, copper, etc. are capable of existing freely while the atoms of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, etc. are incapable of existing on their own. 
• Molecules are particles of an element that are formed using two or more atoms that are joined together by strong forces called chemical bonds. There may be two or more identical atoms in molecules as in those found in elements like hydrogen, oxygen, etc. and there may be two or more atoms in a molecule that are different as in the molecules found in water. 
• Molecules that consist of a singular type of atom are called homoatomic or homonuclear molecules. Examples include sodium, oxygen, ozone, etc.
• Molecules that are made of atoms of different elements are called heteroatomic or heteronuclear molecules. Examples include water, carbon dioxide, etc. 
• Another division of molecules is done according to the number of atoms present in the molecule.
• When the number of atoms in a molecule is one, it is called a monatomic molecule. Examples: Sodium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper etc.
• When the number of atoms in a molecule is two, it is called a diatomic molecule. Examples: Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, etc.
• When the number of atoms in a molecule is three, it is called a triatomic molecule. Example: Ozone. Any molecule that has more than one atom in it is generally called by the name polyatomic molecule. 

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Things to Remember

• Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.
• Physical classification of matter is solid, liquid, gases, plasma and bose-einstein condensate. 
• Chemical classification of matter is heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures.
• Chemical substances can be classified into mixtures and pure substances. 
• Pure substances are those which have a uniform chemical composition. These are further classified into elements and compounds.
• Elements are pure substances which cannot be broken down into further constituent particles.
• Pure substances that can be further broken down into simpler substances using chemical changes are called compounds.
• Atoms and molecules are the smallest particles of an element.

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