States of Matter Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the three main states of matter?
Solid, liquid, and gas.
How do particles behave in a solid?
They are tightly packed and do not move around.
Can solids be compressed?
No, because there isn’t enough space between the particles.
What happens to particles when a solid melts?
They gain energy which they use to break down - but not completely - the bonds between particles, and turn it into a liquid.
What is evaporation?
When a liquid changes into a gas as particles gain enough energy to escape.
Can gases be compressed? Why?
Yes, because their particles are far apart and there is space between them.
What is freezing?
The change of state from liquid to solid.
What is condensation?
The change of state from gas to liquid.
What is diffusion?
The movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration.
Does diffusion require energy?
No, it is a random process that doesn’t need extra energy.
What factors increase the speed of diffusion?
Higher temperature, smaller particles, and gases rather than liquids.
Why doesn’t diffusion happen in solids?
Because particles in solids cannot move, they can only vibrate.
What is the melting point of a substance?
The temperature at which it changes from a solid to a liquid.
What is the boiling point of a substance?
The temperature at which it changes from a liquid to a gas.
How does the melting point graph of a pure substance look?
A flat, horizontal line — it has a fixed melting point.
How does the melting point graph of an impure substance look?
A sloped line — it melts over a range of temperatures.
What are two differences between evaporation and boiling?
Evaporation happens at any temperature; boiling happens only at the boiling point.
Evaporation occurs at the liquid’s surface; boiling happens throughout the liquid.
What state is formed when a substance condenses?
A liquid.
What is sublimation?
Sublimation is the change of state from solid to gas without becoming a liquid in between.
Can gases be compressed?
Yes because there is space between particles.
Do solids flow?
No, because the particles of a solid don’t move; the only vibrate.
Do liquids flow? Why?
Yes, because the particles slide over each other and move around.
How do particles behave in a liquid?
They touch but can slide over each other.
How do particles behave in a solid?
They are tightly packed and vibrate in place.
