Matter Notes

1 of 35 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

What are the three states of matter?
At any given temperature, all substances exist in one of the

three states of matter.
solid liquid gas

What state is it?

Changes of state
Each change of state has a special name:
melting evaporation
ice water steam
freezing condensation

Sublimation
Some substances sublime. This means that they go straight

from solid to gas without passing through the liquid state.
sublimation
solid gas
Substances that sublime include:

 iodine
 carbon dioxide (dry ice)
 plug-in air fresheners
 ink in printers and photocopiers
 comets as they approach the Sun.

Melting point and boiling point
The temperature at which a substance

changes from a solid to a liquid is called
its melting point (or freezing point).
What is the melting point of pure water?
The temperature at which a

substance changes from a liquid
to a gas is called its boiling point.
What is the boiling point of pure water?
What state is water at 25 °C, 300 °C and 100 °C?

Temperature scales

What effect does salt have on ice?

Reducing the freezing point of water
Salt reduces the freezing point of water. This means that the
temperature has to be much colder than 0 °C for it to freeze.
Can you explain why people

put salt on roads and paths
during icy weather?
In what other situations would it

be useful to reduce the freezing
point of water? How about in
making ice-cream?

Particles
The differences between solids, liquids and gases can be

explained by looking at the particles.
 All substances are made up
of particles.
 The particles are attracted to
each other. Some particles
are attracted strongly to each
other, and others weakly.
 The particles move around. They are
described as having kinetic energy.
 The kinetic energy of the particles
increases with temperature.

Particles and properties

Properties of solids, liquids and gases

How do particles move?

What are the properties of solids?
Solids:
 have a high density, as the particles are packed very
closely together
 cannot be compressed because there is very little empty
space between particles
 have a fixed shape
because the particles
are held tightly together
 cannot diffuse because
the particles are not
able to move.

Cornflour paste: solid or liquid?

What are the properties of liquids?
Liquids:
 have a fairly high density because the particles are close
together
 cannot be compressed because there is very little empty
space between particles
 take up the shape of its
container because the
particles can move
 can diffuse because the
particles are able to
change places.

What are the properties of gases?
Gases:
 have a low density because the particles are spaced far
apart
 can be compressed because there is space between
particles
 have no fixed shape
because the particles
move about rapidly in
all directions
 can diffuse because
the particles are able to
move in all directions.

Gas pressure

Solids, liquids and gases: which one?

How do smells spread out?

What is diffusion?
Diffusion is the random movement of particles. When particles

diffuse, they spread out and mix with other particles.
For example, the

smell of aftershave
or perfume can be
detected by people
on the other side of
a room because the
perfume particles
diffuse in the air.
Can you think of some more everyday examples of diffusion?

Diffusion in action

Diffusion and temperature

Diffusion in solids
The particles in liquids and gases diffuse easily because they
are free to move around. However, it is possible for solids to
diffuse as well.
Scientists have found that if they put two metals

next to each other and leave them for a long
time, eventually a few particles of one metal
will diffuse into the other.
This is because the particles in a solid vibrate,

and some of them have enough energy to
move around a little bit as well. Eventually, a
few particles move around enough to diffuse
into the other metal.

Diffusion in liquids and gases
Which will diffuse faster, a gas or a liquid?
The particles of a gas will diffuse faster. Why?

The gas particles are moving around faster than the particles
in a liquid because they have more energy. This means that
the gas particles will spread out more quickly.

Rate of diffusion

Diffusion in action: two gases

Summary: diffusion

Glossary

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1 of 35 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

2 of 35 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

At any given temperature, all substances exist in one of the

solid liquid gas

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Each change of state has a special name:

ice water steam

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Some substances sublime. This means that they go straight

Substances that sublime include:

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The temperature at which a substance

What is the melting point of pure water?

The temperature at which a

What is the boiling point of pure water?

What state is water at 25 °C, 300 °C and 100 °C?

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Can you explain why people

In what other situations would it

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The differences between solids, liquids and gases can be

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Diffusion is the random movement of particles. When particles

For example, the

Can you think of some more everyday examples of diffusion?

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Scientists have found that if they put two metals

This is because the particles in a solid vibrate,

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The particles of a gas will diffuse faster. Why?

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