Question

What are the conditions for something to be called matter?

Answer 1

Hint: First, we have to understand what a matter is. A Matter is something which are composed of atoms and molecules. And each and every substance is composed of matter. Matter is mostly classified in three states - Solid, Liquid, and Gas

Complete answer:
Let’s first see the complete definition of matter. Everything around us which has mass and takes up space is considered as a matter. For example- food is a matter, a book is a matter, and dirt in the ground is a matter. Air is also a matter but sometimes we forget to consider it as matter. Air has mass and it occupies space. Things like thoughts, ideas, hopes and emotions are not considered as matters.
Therefore, Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. There are two basic ways to describe matter i.e. Physical properties and chemical properties.
Physical characteristics of matter include size, shape, colour and temperature. The important physical property of matter is the state (phase) of the matter. There are three fundamental states of matter which are solids, liquids, and gases. A physical change of matter occurs when the matter changes its one or more physical properties. For example- melting of ice. This change does not affect the chemical composition of matter.
The chemical characteristic of matter describes how one form of matter changes in the presence of another matter. Example- Burning of a matter. In this case, chemical composition of matter changes and new forms of matter are formed which have new physical properties.
A matter is anything which occupies space and has mass. It is composed of atoms and molecules. Each and every substance in our surrounding is composed of matter.
From the above explanation, it is clear that the only conditions for something to be called matter is that it should occupy space and should have mass.

Note:
It must be remembered that air is also considered as matter as it has mass and takes up space. However, massless particles like photons and other energy phenomena such as light are not considered matter.