Phases of Matter Notes
Gases, liquids, and solids are all made up of
microscopic particles, but the behaviors of these
particles differ in the three phases.
Note that:
Particles in a:
 gas are well separated with no regular
arrangement.
 liquid are close together with no regular
arrangement.
 solid are tightly packed, usually in a regular
pattern.
Particles in a:
 gas move freely at high speeds.
 liquid move about and slide past each other.
 solid vibrate (jiggle) but generally do not
move from place to place.
STATES OF
MATTER
SOLID
LIQUID
The particles are
closely packed
The particles
but there are
Arrangement
are very
more empty
of particles
closely
spaces between
packed.
them compared
to the solid state.
GAS
The
particles
are very
far apart
from each
other.
STATES OF MATTER
Forces of
attraction
between
particles
Volume and
shape
SOLID
LIQUID
The very strong
The forces of
forces of attraction
attraction are
restrict the
weaker than in the
movement of the
solid state. The
particles. The
particles are no
particles in a solid
longer held in fixed
are held in fixed
positions.
positions.
Solids have fixed
volumes and
shapes.
Liquids have fixed
volumes.
However, they do
not have fixed
shapes but take
the shapes of the
containers.
GAS
The forces of
attraction are
very weak. The
particles move
randomly in all
directions at
great speed.
Gases do not
have fixed
shapes or
volumes.
Notice:
•attraction of particles
•volume
•shape
STATES OF MATTER
Types of
movement
SOLID
LIQUID
GAS
Particles move Particles vibrate Particles vibrate
by only by
and slide past one
and move
vibration.
another.
freely all over.
The kinetic
Kinetic
energy of the
The kinetic
The kinetic energy
(movement)
particles is very
energy of the of the particles is
energy of
high and they
particles is low. high, on average.
particles
move at high
speed.
STATES OF MATTER
SOLID
LIQUID
GAS
Very difficult to
Not easily
Easily
be compressed
compressed
compressed
Compressibility
because the
because the
because the
particles are particles are packed particles are
packed closely.
closely.
far apart.
Rate of
diffusion
Very low
Average
Very high
Plasma is the fourth phase of matter. Plasma is a super
heated gas containing positively and negatively charged
particles called ions. It shares the same characteristics as
gases. Plasma is very rare on Earth but makes up 99% of
the universe! Plasma can be found in lightning, stars,
suns, auroras, and plasma balls.
Phase Changes of Matter
All matter is made of particles which are constantly
moving, colliding with each other and the walls of a
container. As energy is added to or removed from matter, it
can change form one phase to another. When something
such as water turns from being water to being ice, it is
called a phase change. There are different changes that
can take place.
Melting is the
change of a solid to
a liquid. Melting
occurs when a
substance absorbs
Solid – Liquid
heat energy.
Phase
Freezing is the
Changes
change of a liquid
to a solid. Freezing
occurs when a
substance loses
heat energy.
Evaporation occurs when
Vaporization
a substance absorbs
is the change
enough heat energy so
of a
that only the surface of
substance
the liquid is vaporized.
from a liquid
Boiling occurs when
to a gas.
enough heat energy is
Liquid – Gas
There are
Phase
supplied so that particles
two types of
Changes
travel to the surface of the
vaporization.
liquid and then into the air.
Condensation is the change of a
substance from a gas to a liquid. It takes
place when water vapor in the air
condenses from a gas, back into a liquid
form.
Sublimation is the change
of a substance from a solid
to a gas. In some solids,
Solid – Gas
the surface particles
Phase
sublime and escape
Changes
directly into the gas phase.
They do not pass through
the liquid phase.
Energy determines the state!
Add or Subtract Energy. . .
When energy is added, particles move faster!
When energy is taken away, particles move slower!