Which term means anything with mass and volume?

• A. Particles
• B. Conductors
• C. Pure substance
• D. Matter

Answer: (D)

Matter is defined as anything that has mass and takes up space. That means rocks, water, and the air we breathe are all matter, even though air is invisible—the important part is that it has mass and occupies volume. Things like energy or light aren’t matter because they don’t have mass in the usual sense, even though they can carry energy. A particle is a tiny piece that can make up matter, but the general term for anything with mass and volume is matter. A pure substance is a type of matter with a fixed composition, and a conductor describes a material’s ability to conduct electricity, not whether it has mass and volume.