Grades 6–7 Science Vocabulary
Atoms, Matter & the Periodic Table
What matter is made of, how particles move in solids, liquids, and gases, and how the periodic table organizes elements.
Ohio science standards in this unit
- 6.PS.1 · Atoms & matterMatter is made up of small particles called atoms.
- 6.PS.2 · States of matterChanges of state are explained by a model of matter composed of particles that are in motion.
- 7.PS.1 · Periodic table & propertiesElements can be organized by properties.
Definitions are written in plain language to support WIDA's Standard 4 (Science) English Language Development standard.
Practice 40 words
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Crossword Puzzle
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Spelling Practice
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Pronunciation Practice
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Focused practice sets
Shorter word sets on one part of this unit, with extra activities and beginner support.
Elements & Properties
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Study guide
Atoms & matter (6.PS.1)
- atom
- The smallest unit of an element.
- particle
- A very small piece of matter.
- element
- A pure substance made of only one kind of atom.
- substance
- A kind of matter with the same makeup all the way through.
- pure substance
- Matter made of only one element or one compound, like gold or water.
- compound
- A substance made of two or more elements joined together, like water (H₂O).
- molecule
- Two or more atoms joined together.
- density
- How much mass is packed into a certain volume.
- mass vs. volume graph
- A graph of mass against volume. The steepness of the line shows the density.
- mixture
- Two or more substances mixed together but not joined chemically, like trail mix or salt water.
- water displacement
- Measuring an object’s volume by how much the water level rises when you put the object in.
States of matter (6.PS.2)
- thermal energy
- The energy of moving particles in a substance.
- kinetic energy
- The energy of motion.
- temperature
- A measure of how hot or cold something is — the average motion of its particles.
- solid
- Matter with a fixed shape and volume. Its particles vibrate in place.
- liquid
- Matter with a fixed volume that takes the shape of its container. Its particles slide past each other.
- gas
- Matter with no fixed shape or volume. Its particles move fast and spread out.
- vibrate
- To move back and forth quickly.
- compress
- To squeeze into a smaller space.
- attraction
- A pull between things that draws them together.
- collide
- To bump into each other.
- dissolve
- To mix into a liquid so completely that you can no longer see it, like sugar in water.
- particle motion
- How the particles in matter move. They move faster when they are hotter.
Periodic table & properties (7.PS.1)
- periodic table
- A chart that organizes all the elements by their properties and atomic number.
- family (group)
- A column on the periodic table. Elements in the same column have similar properties.
- metal
- An element that is usually shiny, can be bent, and conducts heat and electricity well.
- reactive
- Easily changes when it meets other substances.
- nonmetal
- An element that is usually dull and brittle and does not conduct electricity well.
- properties
- Traits that describe a material and help you tell it apart from others.
- acid
- A substance with a pH below 7, like lemon juice or vinegar.
- base
- A substance with a pH above 7, like soap or baking soda.
- neutralize
- To mix an acid and a base so the result is closer to neutral (pH 7).
- noble gases
- The family of gases, like helium and neon, that almost never react.
- malleable
- Able to be hammered or pressed into thin sheets without breaking.
- brittle
- Breaks or shatters easily.
- pH scale
- A 0-to-14 scale that shows how acidic or basic a substance is. 7 is neutral.
- alkalinity
- How basic a substance is.
- acidity
- How acidic a substance is.
- sulfuric acid
- A strong acid that forms in polluted air and is used in car batteries.
- acid rain
- Rain made acidic by pollution in the air. It can harm lakes, trees, and buildings.
Warm-up words to review
Words from earlier grades that help with this unit.
- volume
- How much space something takes up.
- matter
- Anything that has mass and takes up space.
- mass
- How much matter is in an object.
- phase change
- When matter changes between solid, liquid, and gas, like ice melting.
- chemical change
- A change that makes a new substance, like burning or rusting.
- physical change
- A change in size, shape, or state that does not make a new substance, like melting ice.