You might already be familiar with the word matter since your school life. In simpler terms, it is anything that has mass and volume and hence takes up space. But that is not the end to it, there are several properties of matter. You might think why is it important to know the properties of matter? Well, since, the matter is anything and everything, it is associated with every aspect of our daily life and hence, plays a significant role. For example, matter is composed of atoms and molecules, so, the food that we eat is a form of matter since it is made up of atoms and molecules. Such as this, there is an importance of properties of matter in your daily life. So, what is matter and why is it important to know the properties of matter? And why is it important to talk about the properties of matter? Let’s find it all.
1. What is Matter and Why is it Important?
The matter is a substance that is made up of several particles such as atoms and molecules and occupies a physical space and has definite inertia. The air you breathe the food you take, the things you use, everything is a matter as it is composed of atoms and molecules.
There are several classifications and properties of matter. But why is it important to know the properties of matter? It is important to know matter along with its properties because all the things we encounter in our daily lives are composed of matter. Be it the water you drink or use for several purposes, the air you breathe, or the things you use, all of these are matter and are the properties of matter as well. (See What is the Importance of Matter?)
2. What have You learned about Properties of Matter?
You have learned about the properties of matter in physics and chemistry books during your school life. As you recall, the matter has two properties through which we can perceive them. These are chemical properties or physical properties.
- Physical Properties: It is through which you can observe or measure without the change of identity of matter or a substance. It usually refers to the appearance, color, texture, odor, density, boiling point, melting point, and solubility of a substance.
- Chemical Properties: This can be observed with the change in the identity of the substance. It can be observed and refers to the ability of burning or the change happening as a result of a reaction.
3. What is the Importance of Properties of Matter in your Daily Life?
It is noteworthy to know the importance of properties of matter in your daily life. It is because everything is made up of matter. There are three types of matter that could be known or perceived through viewing or feeling the matter with the help of its own properties. You can observe and calculate the physical and chemical properties of each type of matter. For example, the physical properties involve the odor, appearance, etc whereas the chemical properties involve the way the matter reacts. (See Boiling of water is a physical change or chemical change?)
4. Why is it Important to Talk about the Properties of Matter?
It is important to talk about the properties of matter since you encounter matter and use it in your day-to-day life. The matter has primarily three states, Solid, Liquid, and Gas. Whatever you use in your daily life is majorly made up of these three states. If you wonder why is it important to know the properties of matter or its states, then it is because you might know the characteristics of matter or its states through these properties that include the physical and chemical features.
5. Why is it Important to Know the Properties of Matter?
As you ponder why is it important to know the properties of matter, understanding matter, and its qualities is crucial since everything you come into contact with on a daily basis is made of it. From the objects you use to the air you breathe, the things surrounding you or used by you are made up of several particles. These particles signify acutely to atoms and molecules that form up a matter.
Each type of matter has its own physical and chemical properties which you need to understand in order to perceive or come in contact with that matter or in simpler terms, that substance. (See Which is Not an Example of Matter?)
6. Why is it Important for Students to Learn about Properties of Matter?
It is one of the key concepts of chemistry and physics, that a student should learn. It is because it helps them to identify and calculate the physical or chemical changes that take place in the state of matter such as from solid to liquid to gas, or vice versa.
7. How does Knowledge of Change of Matter help you in your Everyday Life?
It is crucial to understand the properties of matter or the materials, we use frequently in our day-to-day life. For example, you use this knowledge while making ice cream, using dry ice to keep it from melting, drying clothes, melting snow from the road, making ice cream without a freezer, keeping drinks in cans cold for longer, reducing fog on mirrors, glass, and screens, etc. (See What are the Characteristics of an Element?)
8. How can You relate States of Matter in your Life?
You can relate states of matter in your life to everything you use or are surrounded by. A prominent example of this is the primary source of chemical energy needed to sustain life is found in food. It is crucial to have all three forms of matter which are solid, liquid, and gas since matter and energy move together in food along food chains.
9. Are Changes in Matter Important in your Lives?
Yes, changes in matter are important in your life. For example, ice which is a solid state of matter melts to become water which is a liquid state and the water further undergoes heat to become vapor which is a gaseous state of matter. Now, what if the ice didn’t change its state at all? There would be no water for us to sustain any form of life. Like this, there are several other matter or substance which plays a significant role to sustain life.
10. Why do You Study the Properties of Gases?
It is challenging to examine both liquids and solids. There are still investigational techniques used today. They are typically very specific and depend on concepts that were previously discovered in the historical study of gases.
On the other hand, studying gases is relatively simpler. We could measure the volume, mass, temperature, the amount of air, in a balloon or bladder. Chemists and physicists were able to construct a fairly sophisticated understanding of what molecules were and how they functioned using experimental findings.
We can conclude with the hope that by now you have understood why is it important to know the properties of matter. Although the terminologies are perhaps much more complex, it is simpler to understand that matter is anything or everything you use in your life on a daily basis, and in order to know the utilization of those things, you need to understand the properties of those items (or things). (Also read What are the Properties of Air?)