The Three States of Matter

• What are the three common states of matter?

  Solids, liquids, and gases
• How are particles arranged in solids?

  Particles are packed together in a regular pattern with almost no spaces
• Why are solids hard to compress?

  Because the particles are packed together with almost no spaces
• What is a characteristic feature of solids regarding shape?

  Solids have a fixed shape and cannot flow
• How do particles behave in a solid?

  Particles can vibrate but cannot move from place to place
• How are particles arranged in liquids?

  Particles are close together with not many spaces between them
• What is a characteristic feature of liquids regarding shape?

  Liquids take the shape of their container
• How do particles behave in a liquid?

  Particles can move and flow from place to place
• How are particles arranged in gases?

  Particles are widely spaced
• Why are gases easy to compress?

  Because the particles are widely spaced
• What happens to gases in terms of space?

  Gases spread out and fill the space of their container
• What is melting?

  Melting is the process of changing a solid into a liquid by adding energy
• What is the melting point?

  The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid
• Why do particles in a liquid have more kinetic energy than in a solid?

  Because they are moving around more freely
• What happens when the forces of attraction between particles in a solid are broken?

  The solid changes into a liquid
• What is the relationship between the strength of forces of attraction and melting point?

  The stronger the forces, the higher the melting point
• What is an example of a solid with a low melting point?

  Candle wax
• What is an example of a solid with a high melting point?

  Sodium chloride
• What is freezing?

  Freezing is the process of changing a liquid back to a solid by removing energy
• What happens during freezing?

  The forces of attraction between the particles reform
• What is boiling?

  Boiling is the process of changing a liquid into a gas by adding energy
• What is the boiling point?

  The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas
• How does the strength of forces of attraction affect boiling point?

  The stronger the forces, the higher the boiling point
• What is condensing?

  Condensing is the process of changing a gas back to a liquid by removing energy
• When does condensing take place?

  At the same temperature as boiling
• What does the simple particle model assume about particles?

  It assumes that all particles are solid spheres
• What is a limitation of the simple particle model regarding forces?

  It assumes there are no forces between the particles
• How do forces of attraction impact melting and boiling points?

  They have a major impact on the melting and boiling points of a substance