States of Matter

There are 4 states of matter
o Solid
o Liquid
o Gas
o Plasma

Matter is made up of particles which are in continual random motion

The states of matter are based on the arrangement of particles, the energy of the
particles and the distance between the particles
o The "state" of the matter refers to the group of matter with the same properties.
In other words, you group the objects together according to their properties.

Solids
o The particles in a solid vibrate in place while remaining ‘locked’ together
o Definite (fixed) shape and Definite (fixed) volume
 This means that the shape and volume of the object does not change
when moved from one place to another
o Examples: rocks, desk, wood, floor, computer

Liquids
o Particles in a liquid roll around each other but remain in contact
o Indefinite shape and definite (fixed) volume
 This means that liquids change shape to fit the container it is in, but it
does not change volume when moved from one container to another
o Examples: water, milk

Liquids can flow, be poured, and spilled. Did you ever spill juice? Did you notice how the
liquid goes everywhere and you have to hurry and wipe it up? The liquid is taking the
shape of the floor and the floor is expansive limitless boundary (until it hits the wall).
You can't spill a wooden block. You can drop it and it still has the same shape.

Gasses
o Particles in a gas move freely and spread out
o Particles vibrate at high speeds
o The amount of empty space between gas particles can change
o Indefinite volume and Indefinite shape
 This means it changes shape and volume to fill whatever container it’s in,
whether it’s a balloon, a jar, or the classroom

Plasma
o Ionized (electrically charged particles) gas
o Happens when temperatures rise above 1000 degrees Celsius
o Good conductor of electricity
o Affected by magnetic fields
o Indefinite volume
o Indefinite shape
o Common state of matter
o Examples: flames, lightening, Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
State/phase
of Matter
Arrangement
of Particles
Solid
Tightly
packed
together or
locked
together
Loosely
packed
together but
still in
contact
Liquid
Gas
Plasma
Freely
moving
Freely
moving
Energy Distance of
Volume
of
Particles
Particles
Vibrate Close
Definite
in place together
(fixed)
Roll
over
one
another
Fast
moving
Fast
moving
Shape
Examples
Definite
(fixed)
Desk, rocks,
tress
Close
together
but far
enough
apart to
move
far apart
Definite
(fixed)
Indefinite
Water, milk
Indefinite
Indefinite
Far apart
Indefinite
Indefinite
Air, helium,
steam
Fire,
lightening,
Northern
Lights, sun
Phase/state Changes

A change of state is the change of a substance from one physical form to another.

The particles have different amounts of energy when the substance is in different states.

Melting
o Involves a solid changing into a liquid
o The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid is its melting point.
o Ice does this at room temperature and candle wax does this when the candle
burns
o Heat goes into the solid form to make it melt (adding heat/energy)
o Starting phase: solid
o Ending phase: liquid

Freezing
o Involves a liquid changing into a solid
o This happens when the temperature is below the freezing point (The
temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid is its freezing point) of the liquid
o Heat leaves the liquid to make it freeze (remove heat/energy)
o Starting phase: liquid
o Ending phase: solid

Vaporization
o Includes boiling and evaporation
o Boiling: is the change of a liquid to a gas throughout the liquid.
 The temperature at which a liquid boils is its boiling point.
o Evaporation: the change of state from a liquid to a gas.
 Evaporation can occur at the surface of a liquid that is below its boiling
point.
o Heat enters the liquid as it speeds up the particles causing them to be free (add
heat/energy)
o Starting phase: liquid
o Ending phase: gas

Condensation
o The change of state from a gas to a liquid.
o Happens when heat is traveling out of the gas (removing heat/energy)
o Removing heat energy slows the movement of gas particles which allows them
to clump together.
o Starting phase: gas
o Ending phase: liquid

Sublimation
o the change of state in which a solid changes directly into a gas skipping the liquid
state
o Dry ice is an example- goes from frozen carbon dioxide directly to CO2 gas
o Heat goes into the solid causing the particles to speed up and break away rapidly
(heat/energy added)
o Staring phase: solid
o Ending phase: gas
Solid to liquid
Phase Changes
What the phase change is
called
Melting
Liquid to solid
Freezing
Liquid to gas
Gas to liquid
Vaporization (boiling and
evaporation)
Condensation
Solid to gas
Sublimation
Description of phase change
Movement of heat during
phase change
Heat goes into the solid to
make it melt
Heat comes out of the liquid
to make it freeze
Heat goes into the liquid as it
vaporizes
Heat leaves the gas as it
condenses
Heat goes into the solid as it
sublimates