What is particle?

- a particle is a small localized object to which can be ascribed several physical or chemical
properties such as volume or mass. They vary greatly in size or quantity, from subatomic
particles like the electron, to microscopic particles like atoms and molecules, to macroscopic
particles like powders and other granular materials. Particles can also be used to
create scientific models of even larger objects depending on their density, such
as humans moving in a crowd or celestial bodies in motion.

The term 'particle' is rather general in meaning, and is refined as needed by various scientific
fields. Something that is composed of particles may be referred to as being particulate.
However, the noun 'particulate' is most frequently used to refer to pollutants in the Earth's
atmosphere, which are a suspension of unconnected particles, rather than a connected particle
aggregation.

Why study particle technology?

It is about the bulk properties of solids, how to change them and how to deal with them. We
deal with particles singly, in bulk and moving in other fluids, e.g. settling, which is a very
important industrial process (gets complicated as the particles get closer together). Removing
particles from fluids includes filtration, cyclones (fun maths) and centrifuges. We also look at
particle mixing (challenging and important -how do you like your muesli?) and unmixing (getting
the gold out of the rocks).

It includes size reduction = crushing, grinding etc, and size increasing = crystallization and
agglomeration (coffee granules)

We study the behavior of static beds of particles and also moving particles in beds. The
calculation of flow of solid materials out of a silo is one of the most challenging in the degree
course as it involves tensor mechanics. It is also of huge importance in industry.

Particle transport includes pneumatic, hydraulic, vibratory conveying.

Organic materials as powders constitute a fire hazard, and can be dangerous to people and
plant, so this was always a two-hour session.

What are some of technologies to be used into monitor/determine particles present in the
surroundings?
What are the characteristics of particle? Explain.

The important characteristics of particles of matter are the following:

1. The particles of matter are very, very small.

2. The particles of matter have space between them.
3. The particles of matter are constantly moving.
4. The particles of matter attract each other.

A matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Pen, paper, clips, sand, air, ice, etc. are
different forms of matter. Every matter is made up of tiny particles. These particles are so tiny
that they cant be seen with naked eyes. Lets learn about different characteristics of particles of
matter.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICLES OF MATTER

As mentioned earlier, every substance is made up of particles. These particles exhibit some
characteristics. They can influence the state and properties (physical and chemical) of a
substance. The three characteristics shown by particles of matter are as follows.

PARTICLES HAVE SPACE BETWEEN THEM

There are small voids between every particle in a matter. This characteristic is the concept
behind the solubility of a substance in other substances. Lets try to understand this with an
illustration.

Take a glass of water. Put a teaspoon of salt/sugar and mix them properly. You will observe that
the water is still clear. This is because the particles of salt/sugar get into the interparticle spaces
between the water particles. This proves that there are voids between particles of a substance.
If you add more salt/sugar, it will dissolve until all the space between water particles get filled.

PARTICLES ARE CONTINUOUSLY MOVING

Particles of the matter show continuous random movements. The kinetic energy they possess
helps them in this movement. The spreading of ink in a beaker of glass, smell comes from
agarbattis, etc. are few illustrations that show the movement of particles of a substance. When
the particles of two different types of matters intermix on their own, the phenomenon is called
diffusion.
Diffusion of particles becomes fast when the temperature is increased. A rise in temperature
increases the kinetic energy of the particles, making them move more vigorously.

PARTICLES ATTRACT EACH OTHER

Take an iron rod, a chalk, and a pen. Try to break each one of these. Which one of these is easy
to break? The iron rod is stronger than the other two items. What makes an item stronger? Yes,
its the particles in them which are held by the inter-particle force of attraction.

In every substance, there is an inter-particle force of attraction acting between its particles. To
break something we need to overcome this force. The strength of the force differs from one
substance to another.
The inter-particle force of attraction and the kinetic energy of the particles primarily determine
the physical state of any matter.

References:

1. AMS Glossary. American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 2015-04-12.

2. Jump up^ "Particle". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2005.

3. Jump up^ T. W. Lambe; R. V. Whitman (1969). Soil Mechanics. John Wiley & Sons. p. 18. ISBN 978-
0-471-51192-2. The word 'particulate' means 'of or pertaining to a system of particles'.

4. https://www.quora.com/Chemical-Engineering-What-is-particle-technology-all-about

5. http://physicscatalyst.com/Class9/matter2.php

6. http://byjus.com/chemistry/matter-particles-characteristics/

7.