Final answer:
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass, including solids, liquids, and gases but not intangible concepts. It consists of atoms and can be an element or a compound. Non-examples include thoughts and emotions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Matter is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. This includes solid, liquid, and gas forms, which can be physically perceived and measured. Everyday examples of matter include desks, air, and water. Non-examples would be intangible entities like thoughts, ideas, emotions, and hopes, which do not have mass and do not take up space.
At the microscopic level, matter is composed of atoms, which are the fundamental building blocks that make up everything physical in the universe. Different elements, which are pure forms of matter made up of only one type of atom, can combine to create compounds or molecules through bonds such as ionic, covalent, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals interactions. Everything we interact with is a form of matter, from a book to a computer to a spoonful of sugar.