States of Matter

Question 1

What is matter?

Answer 1

Matter is anything that occupies space and has a mass.

Question 2

What does the Particle Theory state?

Answer 2

The Particle Theory states that the particles in a substance stays the same whether it’s a solid, liquid or a gas. What changes is the arrangement of particles, and their energy.

Question 3

What are the Three States of Matter?

Answer 3

Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Question 4

What are characteristics of particles in a solid?

Answer 4

• held tightly together
• have a definite shape
• relatively dense
• vibrate to and fro
• can’t easily be compressed
• strong forces between the particles

Question 5

What are characteristics of particles in a liquid?

Answer 5

• close together but can move
• quite dense
• don’t have a definite shape
• won’t compress easily
• have the same volume
• some forces between particles

Question 6

What are characteristics of particles in a gas?

Answer 6

• far apart
• particles move fast
• low densities
• can be compressed easily
• don’t have a definite shape

Question 7

What are physical changes and how are they different from chemical change?

Answer 7

Physical changes don’t involve a change in mass. They are different to chemical changes because there’s no actual reaction occurring and no new substances are made. The particles stay the same, they just have a different arrangement and amount of energy.

Question 8

List all changes of state.

Answer 8

Melting - solid to liquid
Freezing - liquid to solid
Condensation - gas to liquid
Boiling - liquid to gas
Evaporation - liquid to gas
Sublimation (rare) - solid to gas

Question 9

What is a melting point?

Answer 9

A melting point is how hot a substance has to get to melt.

Question 10

What is a boiling point?

Answer 10

A boiling point is how hot a substance has to get to boil.

Question 11

What are changes of state?

Answer 11

It is changing from one state of matter to another. Energy, usually thermal energy, is required for a change of state to occur.

Question 12

What is diffusion?

Answer 12

Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Question 13

What is gas pressure?

Answer 13

Gas pressure is due to particles hitting a surface.

Question 14

What are the two ways you can increase pressure?

Answer 14

• Reducing the volume
• Increasing the temperature

Question 15

How does increasing the temperature increase pressure?

Answer 15

By increasing the temperature, the particle move faster. This can make them hit walls harder and more often, which both increase the pressure.

Question 16

How does reducing the volume increase pressure?

Answer 16

It increases pressure because when the particles are squashed up into a smaller space, they’ll hit the walls more often.