States of Matter

States of Matter
What is Matter in Chemistry?

As discovered by scientists,
The matter is made up of very tiny particles and these particles are so small that we cannot see
them with naked eyes.
It has been observed that matter exists in nature in different forms. Some substances are rigid and
have a fixed shape like wood and stone; some substances can flow and take the shape of their
container like water, while there are forms of matter that do not have definite shape or size such
as air.
Matter can be classified into different categories based on the physical properties exhibited by
them and the states in which they exist; these are called states of matter.
Following are the basic three states of matter:
 Solid
 Liquid
 Gas
Apart from the above mentioned three, there are 2 more states of matter which we do not see in
our everyday life. They are Plasma & Bose-einstein condensate.
Changes in the characteristics of matter related with external influences such as pressure and
temperature separate states of matter. A discontinuity in one of those qualities frequently
distinguishes states: rising the temperature of ice, for example, generates a discontinuity at 0 °C
(32 °F) as energy flows into a phase transition rather than temperature rise.
Matter Definition Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and its transformation. Another term often
considered synonymous with matter is substance, but a substance has a more limited definition in
chemistry. Chemistry deals with the study of behavior of – matter Chemistry is concerned with the
– Composition, structure and properties of matter and the phenomenon which occurs when
different kinds of matter undergo changes.
Matter theory covers the changing ideas and systems that were used to describe and explain the
material world. A large part of matter theory was based on a theory of the elements.
Solid Definition
 In solids, particles are tightly or closely packed.
 The gaps between the particles are tiny and hence it is tough to compress them.
 Solid has a fixed shape and volume.
 Due to its rigid nature, particles in solid can only vibrate about their mean position and
cannot move.
 Force of attraction between particles is adamant.
 The rate of diffusion in solids is very low.
 An example of solids: solid ice, sugar, rock, wood, etc.
Liquid Definition
 In a liquid state of matter, particles are less tightly packed as compared to solids.
 Liquids take the shape of the container in which they are kept.
 Liquids are difficult to compress as particles have less space between them to move.
 Liquids have fixed volume but no fixed shape.
 The rate of diffusion in liquids is higher than that of solids.
 Force of attraction between the particles is weaker than solids.
 Example of a liquid state of matter: water, milk, blood, coffee, etc.
Gas Definition
 In gases, particles are far apart from each other.
 Force of attraction between the particles is negligible, and they can move freely.
 Gases have neither a fixed volume nor a fixed shape.
 The gaseous state has the highest compressibility as compared to solids and liquids.
 The rate is diffusion is higher than solids and liquids.
 The kinetic energy of particles is higher than in solids and liquids.
 An example of gases: air, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.
Plasma
 Superheated forms of plasma are what stars are.
Changing States of Matter

You would have observed changing states of matter when ice cubes melt from solid into liquid
water or when water boils into vapor, but have you wondered why substances change form?
Changing states of matter occur when matter loses or absorbs energy. When a substance absorbs
energy; the atoms and molecules move more rapidly and this increased kinetic energy pushes
particles far enough that they change form. This energy is usually heat or thermal energy. In this
article, let us understand the science behind the changing states of matter.
What are Changes of State?

A change of state is a physical change in a matter. They are reversible changes and do not involve
any changes in the chemical makeup of the matter. Common changes of the state include melting,
freezing, sublimation, deposition, condensation, and vaporization. These changes are shown in the
figure given below.
Why do Phase Changes Occur?
When temperature or pressure change of a system occurs, phase changes occur. When the
temperature or pressure increases, the interaction between the molecules increases. Similarly,
when the temperature decreases, it is easier for molecules and atoms to settle into a more rigid
structure.
Changes Between Liquids and Solids

How would you make ice cubes in a tray? First, you would fill the tray with water from a tap. Then
you would place the tray in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator. The freezer is very cold.
What happens next?
Freezing
Heat transfer occurs between the warmer tray and the colder air in the freezer. The warm water
loses heat to the cold air in the freezer. This heat transfer occurs until no energy is available for
the particles to slide past each other. This forces them to remain in fixed positions, locked in place
by the force of attraction between them. This way liquid water is changed into solid ice. The
process of liquid water changing to solid ice is termed as freezing. The temperature at which it
occurs is known as the freezing point.
Melting
If you took out the ice cubes from the freezer and placed them in a warm room, the ice would
absorb energy from the warmer air around them. This absorbed energy would facilitate them to
overcome the force of attraction holding them together, enabling them to slip out of the fixed
position that they held as ice. The process in which a solids change to a liquid is called melting.
The melting point is the temperature at which a solids change to a liquid.
Changes Between Liquids and Gases

If you fill a pot with cold tap water and heat it on a hot stovetop, the water heats up. Heat energy
travels from the stovetop to the pot, and the water absorbs the energy from the pot. What happens
to the water next?
Vaporization
If the water is hot enough, it starts to boil. Bubbles of water vapor are formed in the boiling water.
This happens as particles of liquid water gain enough energy to completely overcome the force of
attraction between them and change to the gaseous state. The bubbles rise through the water and
escape from the pot as steam. The process in which a liquid boils and changes to a gas is called
vaporization. The temperature at which a liquid boils is its boiling point.
Condensation
When you take a hot shower in a closed bathroom, the mirror is likely to fog up. You may wonder
why does this happen? Some hot water from the shower evaporates and when it comes in contact
with cooler surfaces such as the mirror, it cools and loses energy. The cooler water particles no
longer have the energy to overcome the forces of attraction between them. They come together
and form droplets of liquid water. This process in which a gas changes to liquid is known as
condensation.
Changes Between Solids and Gases

Solids that change to gas pass through the liquid state first. However, sometimes solids change
directly to gases and skip the liquid state. The reverse can also occur. Sometimes gases change
directly to solids.
Sublimation
The process in which solids directly change to gases is known as sublimation. This occurs when
solids absorb enough energy to completely overcome the forces of attraction between them. Dry
ice is an example of solids that undergo sublimation.
Five Changes of State are:
 Melting
 Freezing
 Evaporation
 Condensation
 Sublimation
The process by which a substance changes from the solid phase to the liquid phase is known as
melting.
The process by which a substance changes from the liquid phase to the solid phase is known as
freezing.
The process by which a substance changes from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase is known as
evaporation. The process by which a substance changes from the gaseous phase to the liquid phase
is known as condensation. The transition of the solid phase to the gaseous phase without passing
the intermediate liquid phase is known as sublimation.

States of Matter

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States of Matter

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States of Matter

What is Matter in Chemistry?

Following are the basic three states of matter:

Matter Definition Chemistry

Changing States of Matter

What are Changes of State?

Changes Between Liquids and Solids

Changes Between Liquids and Gases

Changes Between Solids and Gases

Five Changes of State are:

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