3 States of Matter

• What are the three common states of matter?

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

  • Solids: Packed together in a regular pattern with almost no spaces
  • Liquids: Close together with not many spaces, can move
  • Gases: Widely spaced, move quickly and randomly
• What happens to the arrangement of particles during melting?

  Particles gain energy and move apart, changing from solid to liquid.
• Why are solids hard to compress?

  Because particles are packed together with almost no spaces.
• Why do liquids take the shape of their container?

  Because the particles in a liquid can move and flow.
• What is the reason gases are easy to compress?

  Because the particles in gases are widely spaced.
• What occurs during boiling?

  Particles gain energy and change from liquid to gas.
• What are the processes of changing states of matter?

  • Melting: Solid to liquid
  • Freezing: Liquid to solid
  • Boiling: Liquid to gas
  • Condensing: Gas to liquid
• How does the strength of forces of attraction affect melting and boiling points?

  Stronger forces lead to higher melting and boiling points.
• What is the melting point?

  The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.
• What is the boiling point?

  The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas.
• What are the limitations of the simple particle model?

  • Assumes all particles are solid spheres
  • Assumes no forces between particles
• How does the simple particle model impact our understanding of melting and boiling points?

  It oversimplifies the behavior of particles affecting melting and boiling points.