Notes on States of Matter
1.
Solids –
 Have a definite volume
 Have a definite shape
 Have a definite mass
 Bonds that are very close together hold the atoms in s specific shape
2.
Liquids –
 have a definite volume
 No definite shape; takes the shape of its container
 Have a definite mass
 Some of the bonds break apart and the substance loses its shape; will take the shape of its
container
 Atoms are close together but slide/move past each other
3.
Gases
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No definite shape
No definite volume
Definite mass
All bonds are broken and a gas will spread to fill whatever container you put it in
BONDS
Atoms are held together by invisible bonds
 a bond is an invisible force that attracts atoms to each other
 It is NOT gravity or magnetism, but it works in a similar fashion
What causes things to change state?...that is to boil or melt
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In a solid, an object keeps its shape because the atoms are held in place by invisible bonds – think
of invisible rubber bands
As you add energy, the atoms move faster and bounce off each other and get farther apart
When the atoms get too far apart, some of the bonds stretch and break. Then the solid loses its
shape and becomes a liquid
Do Liquids have bonds?
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Yes.
BUT…if you keep adding energy, eventually all the bonds break, and now it’s every atom for
itself
When a solid turns to a liquid we have MELTING ( melting is called fusion)
When a liquid turns to a gas, we have VAPORIATION or BOILING (vaporization is boiling)
NOTE: Every material has a specific melting and boiling point
Malting and Boiling points are characteristic properties
Characteristic Property – a property that is specific for a substance and does not change when
the amount of the substance changes
Changes in Matter
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In a solid the atoms are held together by an invisible force called a BOND – ( it is NOT gravity or
magnetism, but it works in a similar fashion
As you add energy, the atoms move faster and start spreading farther apart
As you remove energy, the atoms move slower and start getting closer together.
CONDENSATION – a change from a gas to a liquid (gas particles start to cool and move closer
together
EVAPORATION – occurs when a substance changes for a liquid to a gas WITHOUT reaching
the boiling point
HEAT of FUSION – (HF) the energy needed to break the bond in a solid and change it into a
liquid
Heat of Fusion is an actual Number but is different for different substances. For Ice at 0 degrees
Celsius you would need 80 calories to melt each gram of ice
HEAT OF VAPORIZATION – (HV) the energy needed to break the bond in a liquid and
change it to a gas
Heat of vaporization is also an actual number and for ice it is 540 calories per gram
Remember! Boiling and vaporization are the same thing AND melting and fusion are the same
thing
Melting Point – the temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid
Boiling Point – the temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas
SUBLIMATION- this occurs when a solid turns directly to a gas (skipping the liquid state) as in
our demonstration in class using dry ice
PLASMA – Plasma is a gas made of electrons and ions. Normally atoms have a positive center
and a negative covering. When gases turn into plasma they become so hot and move so fast that
atoms start to be torn apart. They become unorganized and they glow.
PLASMA -are made of ionized gases
PLASMA can be found in fluorescent light and the sun
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATE - (BEC – the 5th state of matter ) the name of 2 scientists –
Einstein and Bose
When atoms are cooled to almost absolute zero ( and atoms slow down to an almost stop) a group
of atoms come together to form one super atom which is frictionless and highly conductive
Atoms loose their individual properties of matter at absolute zero
REVIEW!
Plank’s Temperature – the hottest temperature possible
Absolute Zero – the coldest temperature possible
NOTE – We have never reached Plank’s Temperature or Absolute Zero
FIVE STATES OF MATTER – Bose-Einstein Concentrate, Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma,
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Bose-Einstein Concentrate – atoms are cooled to almost absolute zero and are barely moving
Solid – atoms have some energy and are moving slowly and are very close together
Liquid – atoms have a bit more energy and are moving a little faster and move a little farther apart
Gas – atoms have much more energy and are moving much faster and move even farther apart
Plasma – atoms have become so hot and moving so fast that they become torn apart and glow
HOW DO THINGS CONDENSE OR FREEZE?
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In a gas, atoms are flying all over, separated from each other, with no bonds to break them
AS you remove energy, the atoms move slower, and start getting closer together
When the get close enough, SOME OF THE BONDS COME BACK
SOME of the atoms begin to clump together, and you get drops of liquid forming out of the gas
Eventually, all of the gas turns into a liquid
If we continue to remove energy, the atoms will get even slower, more bonds form and all of the
atoms become “frozen” into a rigid shape
Melting Point
Boiling Point
Gallium
29.7646 Celsius,
2204 Celsius, 3999 F
Gold
1064.18 C, 1947.52 F
2856 C,
Oxygen
-218.4 C, -361.12 F
-183.0C, -297.4 F
Water
5173 F