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Solid Liquid Gas

Figure 5–2 The states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

forms are called the states of matter. Matter assumes one of these states de-
pending on its temperature (Figure 5–2). The three different states have
the following distinct characteristics.
Solids have a definite shape and volume. Ice is an example of a solid.
Liquids have a definite volume but not a definite shape; they take the
shape of their containers. Water is an example of a liquid.
Gases do not have a definite volume or shape. They expand easily and
can be compressed. Steam is an example of a gas.

Structure of Matter
Matter can be classified into three main groups: elements, compounds,
and mixtures.
An element is the basic unit of all matter. It is a substance that can-
not be made by the combination of two or more simpler substances, and
the element itself cannot be reduced to simpler substances without a loss
of identity. There are over 90 naturally occurring elements, each with its
5 own distinctive physical and chemical properties. All matter in the univ-
verse is made up of one or more of these different elements.
Each element is identified by a letter symbol, such as O for oxygen, C
for carbon, and H for hydrogen. You can search for these symbols in the
Periodic Table of Elements, found in any chemistry textbook.
There are five elements in the Table that are of special interest to the
esthetician. These elements make up part of the structure of skin, hair, and
nails: carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and sulfur(S).
Atoms are the structural units that make up elements. Atoms are the
particles from which all matter is composed. An atom is the smallest par-
ticle of an element that still retains the properties of that element. All the
atoms in an element are identical. Atoms cannot be divided into simpler
substances by ordinary chemical means.
Atoms consist of smaller particles: protons, which have a positive elec-
trical charge; neutrons, with a neutral charge; and electrons, with a nega-

Part 2 General Sciences

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tive charge (Figure 5–3). The number of protons in an atom equals the Carbon Atom

number of electrons. Proton

A molecule is formed by joining two or more atoms chemically. There

are two types of molecules.
Elemental molecules contain two or more atoms of the same element Neutron
that are united chemically. Atmospheric oxygen, in the air we breathe, is
Electron
the elemental molecule O2. The ozone in the atmosphere, which protects
us from ultraviolet radiation, is the elemental molecule O3 (Figure 5–4).
Compound molecules are chemical combinations of two or more
atoms of different elements (Figure 5–5). The compound molecule Figure 5–3 An atom consists of
sodium chloride (NaCl), or common table salt, is a chemical combi- negatively charged electrons, positively
charged protons, and neutral neutrons.
nation of one atom of sodium (Na) and one atom of chlorine (Cl).
A compound is a combination of two or more atoms of different
elements united chemically with a fixed chemical composition, definite
proportions, and distinct properties. The properties of chemical
compounds are different from the properties of the elements from
which they were made. Water (H2O) is a chemical compound. A water

Atomic oxygen

O O O O

Oxygen, O2 Ozone, O3

Figure 5–4 Elemental molecules. 5

Sodium chloride, NaCl

H

H H
O O
O C O
O

Water, H2O Carbon dioxide, CO2 Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2

Figure 5–5 Compound molecules.

Chapter 5 Chemistry for Estheticians