atom - the smallest particle of an element; basic building block of matter; extremely small particles that all matter is made of
atomic number - number of protons that an atom has in its nucleus
bimetallic strip - strip consisting of two strips of different metals which expand at different rates as they are heated
biodegradable - waste that can be broken down by living organisms; a substance that is broken down by decomposers
boil - change of state from a liquid to gas
brittle – breaks easily
ceramics – non-metallic materials that include clays, cements and glass
change of state - change between any of the states of matter e.g. solid to liquid
charge - either positive or negative; opposites attract, like charges repel
chemical change - occurs when new substances with different chemical properties are produced
compound - chemical in which atoms of different elements are bonded together
condense - gas turning into a liquid
conductor – (heat) material that lets heat energy travel through it easily by conduction;
conductor – (electricity) substances that can carry an electric current
contraction - process of getting smaller, often due to cooling
crystal - solid that has a regular geometric shape
density - mass of a fixed volume of matter; density = mass/volume
diffuse - spreading out of particles from high- to low-concentration areas
dissolve - a solid splits up and mixes with a liquid to make a solution and “disappears” into the liquid
ductile - able to be stretched into a new shape
electron - negatively charged particle rapidly orbiting the nucleus of an atom
element - pure substance made up of one type of atom only
energy levels - area around the nucleus of an atom that can accommodate a certain number of electrons
evaporate - change from liquid to gas state
expansion - process of getting larger, often due to the effects of heating
fabric - flexible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres
flexible - capable of being bent, usually without breaking
formula - chemical symbol for an atom, molecule or compound
freeze - change of state from liquid to solid
freezing point - the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid.
gas - state of matter that has no fixed shape and fills a container
insulator – (heat) a material that does not let heat energy flow through it easily;
insulator – (electricity) substances that don’t allow an electric current to flow through them
liquid - something made of particles fairly close together, but with bonds that are less strong than in solids. The particles can move past each other in a liquid
malleable - able to be bent or hammered into a new shape
mass number - number of protons plus neutrons that an atom has in its nucleus
materials - substances that objects are made out of
matter - stuff that all objects and substances are made out of
melt - change of state from solid to liquid
melting point - distinct temperature at which a solid melts
metal - chemical element that is (usually) shiny, strong and bendable as well as being a good conductor of heat and electricity
mixture - More than one type of stuff mixed together, eg orange juice, air, salty water; occurs when chemicals are mixed together but do not react
molecule - group of atoms that are bonded together
neutron - uncharged particle found in the nucleus of an atom
non metal - chemical elements that are not metals e.g. carbon, hydrogen,chlorine
nucleus – (atom) central area of atom containing protons and neutrons
opaque - a material that does not allow visible light to pass through it
particle - a very small piece or part
phase - form or state of a substance, such as solid, liquid, or gas
physical change - change in some physical property of matter
plastics - carbon compounds that are flexible and can be readily shaped when heated
pressure - force acting per unit area
properties - behaviour, characteristics of something
proton - positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom
recycle - process used materials into new products in order to prevent the waste of potentially useful materials
solid - state of matter that has a fixed shape and volume
state - either solid, liquid or gas
sublimation - direct change from the solid to the gas state
symbol – (chemical) unique shorthand codes for each type of atom/element and shows the number or ratio of each
transparent - a material that allows visible light to pass through it without scattering
unreactive - doesn’t react chemically