Phases of Matter

Phases of Matter: - A characteristic of matter is the ability to change phase. - The three different phases of matter are solid, liquid and gas. - Let’s use water (H2O) as our example: ice (solid) water (liquid) steam or water vapor (gas) - In its solid, liquid, or gas phase, water is still water! It’s not changing the type or number of atoms, but the actual movement of those atoms.

Solids consist of particles that are very closely packed together Solids consist of particles that are very closely packed together. The particles cannot move much, and they cannot move around each other. The movement of the particles in a solid is what we would call a vibration (ex: ice, sugar cube, metal coin). Solid

Liquids The particles are close together but free to move around each other. Liquids do not have any specific shape but take the shape of the container they are placed in. Liquids have specific size or amount. (ex: water, honey, corn syrup, motor oil etc.)

Gases Gases do not have a definite shape or size. A gas fills all the space available in a container. The particles in a gas are spread very far apart from one another. There is a lot of empty space between each particle and each particle is always moving around very quickly (ex: steam from boiling water, oxygen, helium).

Matter in Motion - In each of the above phases, matter is always in motion.

- What was required to change the liquid coming from the faucet into a gas ?

Energy Required to Change State When matter is converted from a solid (ice) to a liquid (water) and to a gas (steam), heat energy is required. We can measure the temperature of a substance and determine when it will change from one phase to another.

When matter is converted from a solid (ice), to a liquid (liquid), and to a gas (steam) heat energy is required. We can measure the temperature of a substance and determine when it will change from one phase to another.