Welcome to Chemistry World

Why it matters

Try to weigh a beam of sunlight or pour a cup of sound — you can't. But air, water, even your breath, all have weight and take up room.

Predict first

What makes something count as 'matter'?

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space — solid, liquid or gas. Chemistry is the study of matter and how it changes.

• You can see it with your eyes
• It has mass and takes up space — correct
• It is solid and hard

What you do

Sort each thing: does it have mass and take up space (Matter), or not (Not matter)?

Check yourself

Why is the air inside a balloon matter?

Air has mass (a blown-up balloon weighs more) and volume — so it is matter, even though you can't see it.

Which of these is NOT matter?

Sunlight is energy — no mass, no volume. Water vapour and dust are matter.

Chemistry is best described as the study of…

Chemistry studies all matter — what it's made of and how it changes.

• It has mass and takes up space — correct
• Because it is invisible
• Because the balloon is round
• Sunlight — correct
• Water vapour
• Dust
• matter and how it changes — correct
• only living things
• only liquids and gases