What Is Everything Made Of? A Simple Guide to Matter
Everything you can touch, see, taste, or feel—from the phone in your hand to the air you are breathing right now—is made of matter . In science, matter is defined as anything that has mass (weight) and takes up space (volume). Here is a quick and simple guide to understanding matter, its building blocks, and how it changes forms. 1. The Building Blocks of Matter Matter isn't continuous; it's made of microscopic particles. Atoms: The fundamental building blocks of all matter. Everything is made of atoms. Molecules: Two or more atoms bonded together (for example, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom form a water molecule, H 2 O 2. The 4 States of Matter On Earth, matter primarily exists in three classical states, with a fourth state dominating the wider universe: State Shape & Volume Particle Movement Everyday Example Solid Fixed shape and fixed volume Packed tightly, vibrating in place Ice, rocks, wood Liquid Fixed volume, takes the shape of its container Flowing ...