Define Matter

Define Matter?

Any substance with mass and volume that takes up space is referred to be matter. Everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately made up of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles, and “matter” refers to atoms and anything made up of them, as well as any particles (or combination of particles) that act as if they have both rest mass and volume, in both everyday and scientific usage. 

However, it excludes massless particles like photons, as well as other energy phenomena or waves like light and heat. There are many different states of matter (also known as phases). Other states, such as plasma, Bose-Einstein condensates, fermionic condensates, and quark-gluon plasma, are possible in addition to the typical daily phases of solid, liquid, and gas – for example, water occurs as ice, liquid water, and gaseous steam.

The features of the matter are as follows:

• There is space between particles.
• Particles are in constant motion.
• Particles are attracted to one another.

Classification of Matters

Matter is typically categorised based on intermolecular forces of attraction and particle spacing

• Because of high intermolecular  forces, these are closely packed. Example – Books.
• Liquids: Liquid have a dense packing of molecules due to weak intermolecular interactions. Example: Water.
• Gases: Intermolecular forces between them are insignificant. Example – Oxygen.