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Grade 5 Science Unit:
Properties of and Changes in Matter
September 2012 by Mr. W.
Overall Learning Goals:
By the end of this unit, each student should understand that:
 There are three states of matter.
 Matter that changes state is still the same matter.
 Physical change refers to the fact that a substance can be changed from one form
to another.
 Chemical change implies the formation of a new substance.
 The properties of materials determine their use and may have an effect on society
and the environment
There will be other board notes, lessons, and worksheets in this unit. It will be the
responsibility of each student to make sure their work is complete in preparation
for their test.
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Matter: The Basics
State of
Matter
Definition
Examples
Arrangements
of Atoms
Solid
Liquid
Gas
1. As matter moves from a solid, to a liquid, to a gas, what happens to
the amount of heat energy present?
2. True or False: All matter can exist as a solid, liquid, or a gas.
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3. Complete the following.
Volume
Liquids
Condensation
Increases
Melting
Gases
Freezing
Evaporation
Sublimation
Mass
Solids
Decreases
Matter is anything in the universe that has ____________. Since all matter
takes up space it has ____________.
Matter exists in three forms: solids, liquids, and gases. __________ have
definite volume and hold their shape. ____________ have definite volume
but take the shape of their container or spread when they are not
contained. _________ have no definite volume and take the volume and
shape of their container or spread when they are not contained.
When matter changes from a solid to a liquid it is called _______________.
When matter changes from a liquid to a solid it is called _______________.
When matter changes from a liquid to a gas it is called _______________.
When matter changes from a gas to a liquid it is called _______________.
When matter changes from a solid to a gas it is called ________________.
When matter changes from a gas to a solid it is called ________________.
As matter changes from a solid, to liquid, to a gas, the amount of heat
energy ____________.
As matter changes from a gas, to a liquid, to a solid the amount of heat
energy _______________.
Different types of matter change state at different temperatures. For
example, ice (a solid) melts at about zero degrees Celsius. If you wanted to
melt your desk you would have to heat it up to about 1400 degrees Celsius.
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Changes of State:
NAME: ____________
Explain what happens in each of the following Changes of State and give a
‘picture example’. The first one is done for you.
Evaporation:
Evaporation occurs when
Water
evaporating
heat energy is added to
from a
turn a liquid into a gas.
water.
Condensation
boiling pot of
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Freezing
Sublimation
Melting:
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The first state is a solid and it is the coldest state of matter. As we heat up
a solid it becomes liquid. Liquid is the second state of matter. As we heat
up liquid, the liquid turns to gas. Gas is the third state of matter. As we heat
up the gas, atoms break apart into charged particles turning the gas into
plasma. This is not the same type of plasma that is found in your blood:
same name, different stuff. SHHHH … this isn’t in the curriculum.
Plasma Basics
Plasmas are a lot like gases, but the atoms are
different, because they are made up of
free electrons and ions of an element such
as neon (Ne). You don't find naturally occurring
plasmas too often when you walk around. They aren't
things that happen regularly on Earth. If you have
ever heard of the Northern Lights or ball lightning,
you might know that those are types of plasmas. It
takes a very special environment to keep plasmas
going. They are different and unique from the other states of matter.
Plasma is different from a gas, because it is made up of groups
of positively and negatively charged particles. In neon gas, the
electrons are all bound to the nucleus. In neon plasma, the electrons are
free to move around the system.
Finding a Plasma While natural plasmas aren't found
around you that often, man-made plasmas are
everywhere. Think about fluorescent light bulbs. They
are not like regular light bulbs. Inside the long tube is a
gas. Electricity flows through the tube when the light is
turned on. The electricity acts as an energy source and
charges up the gas. This charging and exciting of the
atoms creates glowing plasma inside the bulb. The
electricity helps to strip the gas molecules of their
electrons.
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Another example of plasma is a neon sign. Just like a fluorescent lights,
neon signs are glass tubes filled with gas. When the light is turned on, the
electricity flows through the tube. The electricity charges the gas and
creates plasma inside of the tube. The plasma glows a special color
depending on what kind of gas is inside. Inert gases are usually used in
signs to create different colors. Noble gases such as helium (He), Neon
(Ne), Argon (Ar), and Xenon (Xe) are all used in signs.
You also see plasma when you look at stars. Stars are big balls of gases
at really high temperatures. The high temperatures charge up the atoms
and create plasma. Stars are a good example of how the temperature of
plasmas can be very different. Fluorescent lights are cold compared to
really hot stars. However, they are still both forms of plasma, even with the
different physical characteristics.
So there you go … now act
surprised when your high
school physics teacher starts
talking about plasma!
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Physical Changes in Matter 101
You already know all about “physical changes” in matter. Anytime matter
changes state we call that a physical change.
The most important thing to remember about physical changes is that they
are reversible. That means that they can change back. Physical changes
are usually easy to notice because you can see the change. When ice
melts, changing physical states, you can see water pooling in its place.
When a crayon is used to draw, the crayon breaks into millions of tiny
pieces and sticks to the paper. The color of the crayon, in your hand and on
the drawing, is the same; only the size and shape of the matter has
changed. A freezie is another great example of a reversible physical
change.
When you buy a freezies in a box from a store they are liquid. When you
toss them in the freezer for a day or so they change state and freeze into a
solid. On a hot day, when you want to eat a freezie, those frozen treats
melt, and turn back into a liquid. It’s a good thing to, because they would be
a long harder to eat if they didn’t … imagine the brain freeze!
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The Great Un-FREEZIE Race
What you are holding in your hand is a delicious frozen solution of Water,
Corn Syrup High Fructose, Citric Acid, Flavor(s) Artificial, Carboxymethyl
Cellulose … yum!! We know this chilly treat is frozen solid, and if left alone
the freezie will melt at room temperature.
But how can we speed this process up?
The Prize:
The Challenge: Who can melt their Freezie first?
Rules:
A JUMBO FREEZIE!!!!
1. You cannot open the freezie.
2. You cannot move from your seat.
What sped up the freeze’s physical change from solid to liquid?
____________________________________________________________
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The Water Cycle
Evaporation, Condensation and Precipitation
Water
Sun
Ice
Earth
Cloud
Rivers, lakes, and oceans
The ______________ evaporates ______________ from lakes and oceans. As the
air rises, it cools. The water vapor condenses and freezes into tiny particles
of ______________. The droplets crowd together and form a _______________. Wind
blows the ______________ towards the land where it warms. The tiny droplets join
together, gain mass, and fall as precipitation to the _______________. The water soaks
into the ground and collects in ___________,____________, and ____________. The
sun than heats the water again and the process is repeated. We drink the same water
the dinosaurs did. It is constantly cleaned by the water cycle because water changes
state. If water didn’t go through this physical change we would not be able to survive on
earth.
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Chemical Changes in Matter 101
We know that physical changes are reversible. As we learned from the
example of the water cycle, that water can go from a liquid, to a gas, to a
liquid, to a solid, and then back into a liquid again. No matter what state it is
in it is still the same substance, water (H2O).
Chemical changes are different. When matter goes through a chemical
change it is never the same. If you take a piece of paper and put a match to
it, it will catch fire, and burn. The smoke and charred remains are a new
substance. That piece of paper will never be a piece of paper again .
Chemical changes, like burning, are called irreversible changes, because
they cannot go back to the way they were before.
How can you tell a Chemical Change has taken place?
1. A Temperature change
2. A color change.
3. A precipitate is formed (something that won’t dissolve)
4. A gas is given off.
5. Light may be given off
6. Odor may be given off
7. Sound may be given off
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Physical or Chemical Change?
1. You rip your homework up.
Physical Change or Chemical Change
2. A nail rusts.
Physical Change or Chemical Change
3. A glass breaks.
Physical Change or Chemical Change
4. A piece of paper burns.
Physical Change or Chemical Change
5. A firework explodes
Physical Change or Chemical Change
6. Boiling an egg
Physical Change or Chemical Change
7. A firefly lighting up.
Physical Change or Chemical Change
.
8. Vinegar reacts when mixed with baking soda.
Physical Change or Chemical Change
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The Science of Digestion:
A Chemcial Change
Human beings need water to survive, we need oxygen to survive, and we,
of course, need food to survive. We do not just eat to fill ourselves up. We
eat so we can extract the energy of food and use it to run our bodies. How
do we get this energy? A chemcial change of course. Chemical’s in our
bodies break down food into its basic parts. Our body extracts the nutrients,
vitimans, fats, proteins, etc. we need to live and than expells the waste.
We know this is a chemical change because what we eat can never be
what it was. For example, if you eat a slice of pizza … ummm … it does not
come out a slice of pizza. Instead, in goes through a irrevesable chemical
change and is never pizza again.
What else tells us a chemical change has occurred?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
A Temperature change
A color change.
A precipitate is formed (something that won’t dissolve)
A gas is given off.
Light may be given off
Odor may be given off
Sound may be given off
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Changes of State and the Environment:
How does the fact that matter changes state make recycling possible?
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We know chemical changes like buring oil and gasoline in our cars have a
negative effect on the environment. What do you think we can do to lower
the impact of these chemcial changes?
____________________________________________________________
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Non-Newtonian Fluids:
Liquids are also called Fluids. Fluids are suppose to have something called
viscosity, which means they flow. Not all fluids have the same viscosity. Water
pours very easily from a glass, which means it has a high degree of viscosity.
Ketchup is very thick and pours very slowly. This means that ketchup has a low
degree of viscosity.
The more heat or pressure we add to a liquid, the more viscous it should
become. Think about suntan lotion. When you are in the house and put it on, its
pretty thick. If you go to the beach and leave that lotion out in the sun it becomes
really runny. This is because it has more heat energy in it, which makes it more
viscous.
Ok … well those are the “rules” for liquids. So what on earth is going on here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XQ97XHjVw
You are watching a pool filled with non-Newtonian fluid. Non-Newtonian fluids
break the rules for liquids. Instead of becoming more viscous when pressure is
added (like the guy running across the water), it becomes a solid.
It sort of looks like they are walking on water, but they are actually walking on a
non-newtonian fluid.
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Lets Make Oobleck!!
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. That is, it acts like a liquid when being poured,
but like a solid when a force is acting on it. You can grab it and then it will ooze
out of your hands. Make enough Oobleck and you can even walk on it!
Oobleck gets its name from the Dr. Seuss book Bartholomew and the
Oobleck where a gooey green substance, Oobleck, fell from the sky and wreaked
havoc in the kingdom. Here the Oobleck will be made in a bowl and will likely
make a mess, but only because you can get carried away playing with it.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1.5-2 cups corn starch
- a few drops of food coloring of your choice