GENERAL CHEMISTRY MASS – quantity of matter in a given object; constant
WEIGHT – gravitational force or pull on an object; varies
MATTER – anything that occupies space and has mass
PROPERTIES OF MATTER
CHEMISTRY – rational and empirical study of
composition, structures, and properties of matter and the
changes it undergoes in natural processes and
experiments.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD – step-by-step procedure in
solving a problem; logical approach to a solution of a
problem through investigations.
Steps:
1. Identification of phenomenon or problem
2. Making of hypothesis
3. Gathering data
4. Conduct experiment
5. Making of conclusion or generalization
THEORY – a statement of the supposed cause of facts
LAW – concise statement based on data obtained from a
series of experiments.
CHANGES IN MATTER
IMPORTANCE OF CHEMISTRY
- Plays an important role in the utilization and
creation of anything found in the environment.
- Develops scientific habit of mind
BRANCHES OF CHEMISTRY
1. General Chemistry – general survey of the entire
field of chemistry with particular emphasis based
on fundamental conceptions and elementary
laws.
2. Inorganic Chemistry – deals with the study of all
elements and their compounds except those of
carbon and their compounds.
3. Organic Chemistry – study of carbon and its
derivatives/compounds.
4. Analytical Chemistry – deals with the
determination of the identity and composition of
a sample.
a. Qualitative Chemistry – determination of
the nature of the elements or compounds
present in a given sample; determines
what elements are present in a given
sample.
b. Quantitative Chemistry – determines
how much of the elements (composition
& proportion) are present in a given
sample.
5. Physical Chemistry – deals with the development
of the theoretical aspects of chemistry; this is
concerned with the laws underlying chemical
changes.
6. Biochemistry – “chemistry of life”; study of the
compounds and chemical changes that are
brought about by living processes.
7. Nuclear Chemistry/Radiochemistry – study of
radioactive elements; study of the changes that
take place in atomic nuclei when bombarded with
suitable particles.
1. Physical Properties
o Characteristics which describe physical
appearance
o Could be perceived by our senses
o Can be observed without causing any
change in chemical composition
o Odor, taste, color, melting point, boiling
point, solubility
2. Chemical Properties
o Characteristics which describe chemical
behavior
o Describe the tendency of a substance to
undergo chemical change alone or by
interaction with other substances and in
so doing to form different materials.
o Combustibility, rusting of iron, wood to
decay
1. Physical Change
o Only the physical condition of property is
altered
o Chemical composition is not altered
o No formation of new substance nor
destruction of old substance
o Evaporation, melting, chopping of wood
2. Chemical Change
o Chemical composition is altered
o Involves disappearance of original
substance and formation of new one
o Represented by means of a chemical
reaction
o Evidences:
 Formation of bubbles (gas is
evolved)
 Formation of insoluble solid or
precipitate
 Formation of moisture or water
droplets
o Burning of wood, digestion, metabolism,
rusting of iron
3. Nuclear Change
o Results in a change of identity of the
atom itself and production of energy.
o For certain substances or atoms only
o Ex. Ra ---------->Rb + energy
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER  ACIDS – sour taste; yield
hydrogen ion (H+) in water
solution; turn blue litmus paper
into red; ex. HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4
ELEMENT  BASES – bitter taste; yield
PURE hydroxide ion (OH-) in water
SUBSTANCE solution; turn red litmus paper
COMPOUND into blue; slippery to the touch;
ex. NaOH, NH4OH, Ca(OH)2
MATTTER  SALTS – made up of a positive
ion other than H+ and a negative
HOMOGENOUS
ion other than OH-; ex. NaCl,
MIXTURE MgSO4, KNO3
 OXIDES – compound made up
HETEROGENOUS of oxygen and another element;
ex. CO2, SO2, Fe2O3

 PURE SUBSTANCE – a form of matter that
always has a definite and constant composition;
never varies; includes compounds and elements
1. Elements
o Simplest form of matter
o Made up of only one type of atom
o Cannot be broken down into simplest
forms by ordinary chemical means.
o Types:
 METALS – conductors of
electricity; have luster,
malleable, ductile; donate
electrons in forming
compounds; crystalline form,
shiny
 NON-METALS – non-
conductors of electricity; not
shiny, non-ductile, non-
malleable; accept electrons in
forming compounds
 METALLOIDS – or Amphoteric
Elements; exhibit properties that
are intermediate between metals
and non-metals
 INERT or NOBLE or RARE
GASES – most chemically
inactive/unreactive/stable
elements; neither donate nor
lose electrons
2. Compounds
o Made up of 2 or more elements that are
chemically combined
o Could be decomposed by simple
chemical means into 2 or more different
substances
o Abide the Law of Definite Proportion
(elements combine with one another in a
definite ratio by weight)
o Could be broken down
o Elements in compounds are called
CONSTITUENTS.
o Types:
3. Mixtures
o Made up of 2 or more elements or
compounds not chemically combined
o Could be decomposed or broken down or
separate by physical or mechanical
processes such as: evaporation,
decantation, distillation, or magnetism.
o Do not abide the Law of Definite
Proportion
o Each component retains its own
characteristics
o Substances in mixtures are called
COMPONENTS
o Types:
 HOMOGENOUS MIXTURE –
also known as SOLUTION;
uniform in appearance; single or
one phase; particles are too small
that they cannot be seen by the
naked eye or ultra microscope;
phase of solution depends on the
phase of the solvent
 Solid solution – ex.
White gold (Au + Pd),
bronze (Cu + Ag)
 Liquid solution – ex.
Salt solution
 Gaseous solution – ex.
air
 HETEROGENOUS MIXTURE –
also known as SUSPENSION;
not uniform in appearance;
distinct phases; particles are
large enough to be seen with the
naked eye; ex. Concrete, halo-
halo, pizza
STATES OR PHASES OF MATTER
 Solid – molecules are compact
 Liquid – molecules move freely
 Gas – molecules are far apart
INTERCONVERSION OF MATTER
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
- A system in which an ordinary decimal number is
GAS expressed as a product of a number between 1 and
10 times 10 raised to a power.

- Exponents:
o 100 = 1
o 101 = 10
o 102 = 100
o 103 = 1000
<-- FREEZING/ o 104 = 10000
SOLIDIFICATION --
o 10-1 = 0.1
SOLID -- MELTING/FUSION 
LIQUID o 10-2 = 0.01
o 10-3 = 0.001

- Writing in scientific notation:

ENERGY – ability to do work; can be converted from one
form to another
FORMS OF ENERGY
1. Heat energy – energy released when fuels are
burned
2. Mechanical energy – energy from machines or
pumps
3. Chemical energy – energy possessed by
substances that allow it to be converted into a new
substance
4. Electrical energy – energy from the flow of
electrical current
5. Light or Radiant Energy – energy associated with
light; sun, fluorescent
6. Atomic or Nuclear Energy – energy associated
with the manner in which atoms are constructed
7. Sound Energy – energy from sound vibrations
TYPES OF ENERGY
1. Potential energy – energy at rest; stored energy;
energy possessed by a body at rest with respect to
its position or elevation
2. Kinetic energy – energy in motion
LAWS GOVERNING MATTER & ENERGY
1. Law of Conservation of Mass
o Mass is neither created nor destroyed in
any transformation of matter
o Mass of reactants = Mass of product
o Ex. 2H2 + O2  2H2O
(0.11g) (0.80g) (1g)
2. Law of Conservation of Energy
o Energy is neither created nor destroyed
in any transformation of matter. It can be
transformed from one form to another.
o Energy of reactants = Energy of products
a x 10b
a = coefficient
b = exponent
10 = exponential term
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
- Are the meaningful digits in a measured or
calculated quantity
Rules in counting significant figures:
Rule 1: In numbers not containing any zeros, all digits are
significant.
Examples: 13.753 (5 s.f.); 3.123 (4 s.f.); 1.31 (3 s.f.)
Rule 2: All zeros between significant figures are
significant.
Examples: 1.032 (4 s.f.); 3033 (4 s.f.); 300011 (6 s.f.)
Rule 3: In numbers with a decimal point, zeros to the
LEFT of the first nonzero digit are NOT significant.
Examples: 0.08 (1 s.f.); 0.0000349 (3 s.f.)
Rule 4: If a number is greater than 1 (with a decimal
point), all zeros to the RIGHT of the decimal point count
as significant figures.
Examples: 2.0 (2 s.f.); 40.062 (5 s.f.)
Rule 5: For numbers without decimal points, the zeros to
the right of the last nonzero digit may or may not be
significant.
Examples: 400 (1 s.f.); 40 (1 s.f.); 1200 (2 s.f.)