Matter can be divided into living matter (which meets all the characteristics of life — plants and animals, studied in biology) and non-living matter (stones, chairs, desks — studied in physics and chemistry).
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
Non-living matter is either a simple substance or a complex substance.
- Simple substances (elements): made of just one kind of matter, and cannot be split into simpler substances by chemical means. They are divided into metals (e.g. lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium) and non-metals.
- Compounds: a complex substance made of two or more elements chemically combined, e.g. sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate.
- Mixtures: a complex substance made of two or more substances that are not chemically combined, e.g. rice and beans, water and stone.
Types of Mixture
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Solid–solid | Rice and beans |
| Insoluble solid–liquid | Sand in water |
| Soluble solid–liquid | Salt in water |
| Miscible liquid–liquid | Water and alcohol |
| Immiscible liquid–liquid | Water and oil |
| Liquid–gas | A fizzy drink |
| Gas–gas | Air |
| Solid–gas | Smoke |
