Chapter 5: States of Matter

What is matter?
Scientists use the word 'matter' for anything that takes up space
and has mass. The three states of matter are solid, liquid and gas.
● Solids have a definite shape and volume.
● Liquids have a definite volume, but take the shape of the container.
● Gases have no definite shape or volume.

What is the fourth state of matter?

The fourth state of matter is called plasma, which rarely exists on earth. It resembles
a gas but has certain properties that gases do not have.

What is everything made from?

Everything is made of matter.

What are the three states of matter in humans?

We are made of solid bones and muscles.
Liquids flow in our arteries, veins and intestines.
We breathe in air (a mixture of gases) that fills our lungs.

What is the difference between solid, liquid and gas?

Properties Solid Liquid Gas

Mass Definite Definite Definite

Volume Definite Definite Indefinite

Shape Definite Indefinite Indefinite

Fluidity Cannot flow Flows easily Flows easily

Compressibility Hard to compress Hard to compress Easy to compress

Force of attraction Particles have a Particles have a Particles have a

strong force of weak force of very weak force of
attraction. attraction. attraction.

Relative particle In contact and In contact but not Not in contact,

positions fixed in place fixed random positions
Compare the movement of particles in solid, liquid, and gas?
[How is the movement of particles in gases different from the movement of
particles in liquids? Draw diagrams with your answer.]

Name five gases?

1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Helium
3. Hydrogen
4. Nitrogen
5. Oxygen
Identify the three states of matter that make up a glass of fizzy drink.

Ice is solid. Water is liquid. The bubbles are gas.

Why is the state of water different in each picture?

Water can take many forms. At low temperatures (below 0°C), it is a solid. When at
“normal” temperatures (between 0°C and 100°C), it is a liquid. While at temperatures
above 100°C, water is a gas (steam). The state the water is in depends upon the
temperature.

What state or states of matter does each statement describe?

This state has a definite volume.
Ans) Liquid state or solid state
This state has no definite shape.
Ans) Liquid state or gas state
This state allows the individual particles to move about while remaining in
contact.
Ans) Liquid state
Where does the particle theory of matter come from?
More than 2000 years ago in Greece, a philosopher named Democritus suggested
that matter is made up of tiny particles too small to be seen.
Many years later, scientists came back to Democritus’ idea and added to it. The
theory they developed is called the particle theory of matter.

What are the four main ideas in the particle (kinetic) model?
1. All matter is made up of tiny particles.
2. The particles of matter are always moving.
3. The particles have spaces between them.
4. Adding heat to matter makes the particles move faster.

Why is the particle model useful?

Scientists find the particle model useful for two reasons.
First, it provides a reasonable explanation for the behaviour of matter.
Second, it presents a very important idea that the particles of matter are always
moving.
Thus, the particle model can be used to explain the properties of solids, liquids, and
gases. It can also be used to explain what happens in changes of state.

What causes a change of state?

When the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the particles rises, and they begin
to vibrate. As a result, they move quickly, weakening the forces of attraction between
the particles. This can eventually result in a change in the state of matter.

Similarly, When the temperature drops, the kinetic energy of the particles falls, and
they vibrate less and less. As a result, they move slowly, strengthening the forces of
attraction between the particles. This can eventually result in a change in the state of
matter.

List the changes of state of matter.

Changes of state are:

● solids melting into liquids

● liquids boiling into gases
● gases condensing into liquids
● liquids freezing or solidifying into solids
Draw a labelled diagram to show the change of state of water from solid state
to liquid state to gaseous state starting from ice.

Define Melting?
As a solid is heated, the particles vibrate faster and faster until they have enough
energy to break away from their fixed positions. When this happens, the particles
can move about more freely. The change from a solid to a liquid is called melting.

Define Freezing?
The reverse of melting is called freezing or solidification. This is the change from a
liquid to a solid. As a liquid cools, the particles in the liquid lose energy and move
more and more slowly. When they settle into fixed positions, the liquid has frozen or
solidified.

What is Boiling?
If a liquid is heated the particles are given more energy and move faster and faster
expanding the liquid. The most energetic particles at the surface escape from the
surface of the liquid as a vapour as it gets warmer. Liquids evaporate faster as they
heat up and more particles have enough energy to break away. The particles need
energy to overcome the attractions between them. As the liquid gets warmer more
particles have sufficient energy to escape from the liquid. Eventually even particles in
the middle of the liquid form bubbles of gas in the liquid. At this point the liquid
is boiling and turning to gas. The particles in the gas are the same as they were in
the liquid; they just have more energy.
What is boiling point?
At normal atmospheric pressure all materials have a specific temperature at which
boiling occurs. This is called the "boiling point" or boiling temperature.

State the differences between evaporation and boiling.

Evaporation Boiling

Evaporation is a process by which a Boiling is a process by which a

substance changes from a liquid state substance changes from a liquid state
to a gaseous state at temperatures to a gaseous state at the boiling point of
below the boiling point of the liquid. the liquid.

Occurs only from the surface of the Can occur throughout the liquid
liquid

Occurs at a temperature lower than the Occurs at the boiling point

boiling point

Evaporation is slower Boiling is faster

Does not produce bubbles Produces lots of bubbles

Leads to cooling Does not result in cooling

What is vacuum?

● A vacuum is a space in which there are no particles of matter.

● Vacuums do not exist naturally on Earth. Space is a near-perfect vacuum.
● There is no such thing as a perfect (total) vacuum because it is impossible to
remove all the air or particles from a space.
● But partial vacuums are common.
● A partial vacuum is a space with almost no air or particles inside.

Is there air resistance in Space?

Space is a near-perfect vacuum which means there is no air resistance. If you threw
a ball in space it would theoretically travel in a straight line forever because there is
no air resistance to slow objects down.
What is the difference between a perfect vacuum and a partial vacuum?

Perfect/Total/Absolute Vacuum Partial Vacuum

A space with nothing in it - no air or A space with almost no air or particles

particles inside it. inside.
[a vacuum with no matter enclosed] [a vacuum with low amounts of matter]

It is a theoretical concept. It does not Example: A strong hurricane, Space

exist in the real world.