Matter refers to anything that has mass and takes up space.

Elements

Compounds

Mixtures

Solutions are homogeneous mixtures where a solute is uniformly dissolved in a solvent.

The solute is the substance being dissolved, and the solvent is the substance doing the dissolving.

Solutions can be solid, liquid, or gas, depending on the state of the solute and solvent.

They have properties such as transparency, conductivity, and boiling/freezing point elevation or depression.

A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture in which solid particles are dispersed in a liquid or gas medium.

The particles in a suspension are usually larger and can settle down due to gravity over time.

Examples of suspensions are muddy water, orange juice with pulp, and snow globe.

A colloidal solution, also known as a colloid, is a heterogeneous mixture where finely divided particles are dispersed in a continuous medium.

The particles in a colloid are larger than those in a solution but smaller than those in a suspension.

They can scatter light and exhibit the Tyndall effect.

Examples of colloidal solutions are milk, fog, and mayonnaise.

Suspensions can have opaque appearance due to the presence of large particles that can scatter light.

The particles in a suspension can settle down and can be separated by filtration.

Mixtures are composed of two or more substances physically combined, while compounds are chemically combined.

Mixtures can be separated by physical means, while compounds can only be separated by chemical means.

The components of a mixture retain their individual properties, but the properties of compounds are different from those of their constituent elements.

Physical changes are reversible changes in which the substance retains its chemical composition.

Examples of physical changes include freezing, melting, boiling, and tearing paper.

Chemical changes are irreversible changes that result in a new substance(s) with different chemical properties.

Examples of chemical changes include burning, rusting, and digestion.

They do not settle down like suspensions and cannot be separated by filtration.

Colloids exhibit the Tyndall effect, similar to suspensions.