Matter Matters By Jarek Blackmon

What is Matter? Matter is everything, everything that has mass and volume is considered matter. I am matter, you are matter and everything around you is matter. Matter is everywhere, it is what the entire universe is made of.

What is Matter Made of? Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are molecules made up of a nucleus, protons (positive charge), electrons (negative charge) and neutrons (no charge).

States of Matter Matter can come in three states, solid, liquid and gas. When matter is in a solid form, the particles are compressed and can barely move. When matter is in a liquid form, the particles can move a little more freely and spread out more. When matter is in the gas form, particles move without resistance, spreading out freely.

Changing States It is possible for matter to change states, and it happens by adding or taking away heat. If you add enough heat to ice (solid), it will turn into water (liquid), and if you take away heat, the opposite will happen. The same will also happen if you add heat to water, it will become water vapour (gas), and if you take away heat, the opposite will happen.

Changing States The process of a solid changing into a liquid is called melting, and changing into a gas is called sublimation. The process of liquid changing into a solid is called freezing, and changing into a gas is called evaporation. The process of a gas changing into a solid is called deposition, and into a liquid is called condensation.

Fourth State of Matter? There is also a fourth state of matter, called plasma. Plasma is a gas that has been heated up so much, the electrons break free from the nucleus, but still travel with it. Lightning is an example of plasma.

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