Chapter 1

STATES OF MATTER

L EARNING O UTCOMES

State evidence in support of the

particulate nature of matter
Explain the differences between the three
states of matter in terms of the arrangement
of particles
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

States of Matter
Matter can exist in 3 states: solid, liquid and gas.
For example, water can exist as:
ice (solid state),
water (liquid state) and
steam or water vapour (gaseous state).
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

States of Matter
The state in which a substance exists depends mainly
on its temperature and pressure.
For example, iron is a solid at room temperature and
pressure; but at around 1500 oC, it becomes a liquid.
Similarly, oxygen is a gas at room temperature and
pressure, but at 183 oC, it is a liquid.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Diffusion
Diffusion is the spontaneous movement of particles of a
substance from a region of higher concentration to a region of
lower concentration.

Diffusion occurs in all states of matter.

For solids, diffusion can be shown by placing a block of gold

and a block of lead together. Some gold atoms will be found in
the lead block and some lead atoms will be found in the gold
block after a few years.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER
Diffusion
For liquids, diffusion can be shown by placing a drop of
ink or a crystal of purple potassium manganate(Vll) into a
beaker of water.

After some time, a uniform purple colour is seen

throughout the beaker.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER
Diffusion
For gases, diffusion can be shown by setting up the apparatus shown
below.

1.Soak a piece of swab with concentrated hydrochloric acid and insert it

into one end of the glass tube.
2. Soak another piece of cotton swab with concentrated ammonia solution
and insert it into the other end of the glass tube.
3. Seal both ends of the glass tube with rubber bungs and leave the tube
horizontal.
Chapter 3
The Three States of Matter
Rate of diffusion
The speed of diffusion is fastest in
gases followed by liquids and very
slowly in solids.
The rate of diffusion increases with
At O oC
temperature.
At higher temperatures, the particles
have higher kinetic energy and
hence move faster and diffuse at a
faster rate.
At 2O oC
Chapter 3
The Three States of Matter
Rate of diffusion
The rate of diffusion also depends
on the relative molecular mass of
the particles.
Heavier particles will
diffuse at a slower rate
than lighter particles.
The rate of diffusion of a gas is
inversely proportional to the
square root of its relative
molecular mass.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Osmosis
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a
region of higher water concentration to a region of lower
water concentration through a partially permeable
membrane.
It is a special type of diffusion carried out by plants to
obtain water and mineral salts from the soil.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Differences between solids,

liquids and gases
A solid has a fixed shape and a fixed
volume. A solid cannot be compressed.
A liquid has a fixed volume but no fixed
shape. A liquid cannot be compressed.
A gas has neither fixed shape nor
volume. A gas can be easily compressed.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Differences in properties

Solid Liquid Gas

Particles are packed
closely together in an Particles are close together, Particles are very far apart.
orderly pattern. but not tightly packed.

Solid particles can only Liquid particles can vibrate Gas particles can vibrate
vibrate in fixed positions and move freely throughout and move very freely and
but cannot move away the liquid. randomly in all directions.
from each other.
 Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

The Particle Theory

According to this theory, the particles in matter are in a state of constant motion due to their
kinetic energy.

Gas particles of a substance have more kinetic energy than liquid particles, while liquid
particles have more kinetic energy than solid particles.

Hence, gas particles can move much more freely and quickly than liquid particles, which in turn,
can move more freely than solid particles.

Matter can be converted from one state to another by changing the amount of energy of the
particles. If a matter gains heat energy, the particles will move faster and further apart, thus
changing from a more orderly state to a more disorderly state.

Conversely, if heat energy is removed from a matter, the particles will slow down and move
closer together, thus resulting in a more orderly state.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Melting
Melting is the change from a solid to a liquid.
The temperature at which a solid melts is called its
melting point.
A pure substance has a fixed melting point.
E.g. The melting point of ice is 0 oC.

melting

Solid Liquid
 Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Melting point graph

During melting, heat energy is Temperature/ oC

absorbed by the solid.

The temperature remains constant
during melting because the heat
absorbed is used to overcome the Liquid state

forces of attraction between the solid Melting point

particles instead of using it to raise its solid + liquid
temperature.
solid state
A melting point graph can be plotted
for a solid which undergoes heating,
and its melting point can be Melting point graph
determined from the graph.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Freezing
Freezing is the change from a liquid to a solid. It is the reverse of
melting.
The temperature at which a liquid freezes is called its freezing point.
For most pure substances, the freezing point is the same as the
melting point.
E.g. The melting point of ice and the freezing point of water are both
0 oC.

freezing

Liquid Solid
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Freezing point graph

Temperature/ oC
During freezing, heat energy is
released (given out) by the liquid
particles as they slow down and move
closer together to take up the orderly
positions of a solid. Liquid state

The temperature remains constant

Freezing
during freezing because the heat point
given out compensates for the loss of solid + liquid solid state
heat to the surroundings.
A freezing point graph (or cooling
curve) can be plotted, and the freezing
point of the liquid can be determined Freezing point graph
from the graph.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Boiling
Boiling is the change from a liquid to a gas or vapour.
The temperature at which a liquid boils is called its boiling point.
A pure substance has a fixed boiling point.
E.g. The boiling point of water is 100 oC under normal
atmospheric pressure.

boiling

Liquid Gas
 Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Boiling point graph

During boiling, heat energy is absorbed
by the liquid particles to change into a
gas.
The heat energy absorbed is used to
overcome the forces of attraction Gaseous
state
between the liquid particles and to Boiling
increase their kinetic energy until they point Liquid + gas
have sufficient energy to escape from the
Liquid state
liquid.
The temperature of a liquid remains
constant during boiling as the heat
energy absorbed is used to increase the
Boiling point graph
kinetic energy of the particles and not to
raise its temperature.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Evaporation
Evaporation is the change from liquid into gas without boiling.
E.g. A drop of ethanol or perfume evaporates at room temperature.
Evaporation occurs below its boiling point.
Evaporation only takes place at the surface of a liquid.
Evaporation takes place slowly.
Evaporation produces a cooling effect because heat energy is
absorbed from the surroundings.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Condensation
Condensation is the change from a gas to a liquid.
It is the reverse of boiling.
Heat energy is released (given out) during
condensation as the gas particles slow down and
move closer together to become a liquid.
The temperature of a substance remains constant
during condensation since the heat given out
compensates for the loss of heat to the
surroundings.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Sublimation
Sublimation is the change from a solid directly into a gas
without melting.
For example, iodine crystals sublime into purple iodine
vapour when heated.
Iodine vapour

Sublimation
Solid iodine
Solid Gas

Other examples of solids which sublime are dry ice,

ammonium chloride and naphthalene.
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER

Summary
Melting
(energy absorbed)

Solid Liquid

Freezing
(energy released)

le a n
d)
re atio
se
rg ns
ne de
(e Co n

be n
(en

or t io
Su y a

d)
bs or a
erg
bli bso
ma rb

y a vap
tio ed

ne / E
n

(e l ing
rg
i
Bo
)

Gas
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER
Quick check 1
1. State whether heat energy is absorbed or released in each of the following
processes:
(a) melting, (b) boiling, (c) freezing, (d) condensation

2. State whether the speed of the particles increases or decreases during:

(a) melting, (b) condensation, (c) boiling, (d) freezing

3. The information below gives the melting points and boiling points of four
substances:
Substance Melting point (oC) Boiling point (oC)
W 123 150
X 59 247
Y 98 597
Z 20 125
(a) For each substance, state whether it is a solid, a liquid or a gas at room
temperature and pressure.
(b) In which substance are the particles furthest apart at 60 oC?
Solution
Chapter 1
STATES OF MATTER
Solution to Quick check 1
1. (a) melting heat absorbed, (b) boiling heat absorbed,
(c) freezing heat released, (d) condensation heat released
2. (a) melting increases, (b) condensation decreases,
(c) boiling increases, (d) freezing decreases
3. Substance Melting point ( oC) Boiling point ( oC)
W 123 150
X 59 247
Y 98 597
Z 20 125
(a) W: gas, X: liquid, Y: solid, Z: liquid
(b) W
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