1. Variable – A condition or factor that can be changed in an experiment. Three types of variables are:
• Independent – the variable that is changed or manipulated
• Dependent – the variable that changes in response to the independent variable
• Controlled – the variable that remains constant

2. Matter – Anything that has mass and volume; there are 4 states.

3. SI System of Measurement – The International System of Units developed by scientists as a worldwide standard of measurement.

4. Safety Equipment – Equipment, such as goggles and aprons. Used for protection in an experiment.

5. Procedures - Set of specific steps that must be completed to reproduce the same result under the same conditions.

1. Volume – The amount of space that something occupies or the amount of space that something contains.

2. Displacement – The amount of water that is raised when a solid object is placed in the water.

3. Property - Characteristic used to identify matter.

4. Mass – The amount of matter that something is made of.

5. Density - The amount of matter in a given space, or volume.

1. States of Matter - The physical form in which a substance exists, such as a solid, liquid or gas.

2. Metals – Good conductors of heat and electricity; opaque, but good reflectors of light when polished; can be beaten into sheets and can be drawn into wires; produce a sonorous tone when struck.

3. Nonmetals – Poor conductors of heat and electricity; do not have the luster of metals and may appear in all three states of matter.

4. Conductivity – Allows thermal (heat) energy and electricity to pass through it easily.

5. Malleability - The ability of a substance to be rolled or pounded into thin sheet.

1. Solubility - The ability of a substance to dissolve in another substance.

2. Ductility - The ability of a substance to be pulled into a wire.

3. Magnetism – A force that attracts objects.

4. Streak – The color of the mark that a mineral makes when it is scraped across a streak plate.

5. Luster – A physical property by which a mineral reflects light from its surface.