Materials
Materials are
elements,
compounds or mixtures that make up things.
If you play basketball, the ball you use is made up mostly of the material known as rubber.
You breathe in
air that is made up of a mixture of compounds and elements, such as
nitrogen,
oxygen, carbon dioxide,
water,
helium and many others.
If you get thirsty after your game, you can cool down with a drink of the compound:
water.
The towel you rub down with is probably going to be made up of the compound: cellulose or cotton.
All these things are
materials.