2.2: Properties and Changes of Matter

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In addition to discussing the categories of matter, we can also discuss both its properties and ways in which it may change. Both properties and changes may be categorized as either physical or chemical. Understanding the differences between physical and chemical properties or changes requires an understanding of how matter behaves on the level of atoms and molecules. We are able to discuss each of these in broad terms now, but will continue to sharpen our perspective on this by learning more about the behavior of atoms and molecules in the chapters to come. Regardless of the change, it is also important to understand that matter itself is essentially permanent, and it does not go away even if our senses can’t detect it in the same way that they did before. These concepts will be explored in the subsections of this section.