States of Matter
Which state of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape?
Liquid
What is the smallest unit of an element?
An atom
Do particles in a solid move? If so, how?
Yes, they vibrate in place.
What does temperature measure?
The kinetic energy of the particles.
If you stretch a rubber band (and do not release it), does it have more potential or kinetic energy?
What is it called when a gas transforms into a liquid?
Condensation
Which part of the atom determines what element it is?
The number of protons
What happens to particle speed when the temperature increases?
Particles move faster.
Why does a metal spoon feel colder than a wooden spoon, even if they’re at the same room temperature?
Metal is a better conductor, so it quickly transfers heat from your hand
Define potential energy in terms of particles.
Stored energy due to position or forces of attraction.
What is the process called when a substance (like carbon dioxide/dry ice) goes from a solid to a gas?
Sublimation
What does the atomic number tell you about an element?
Number of protons in the nucleus.
Why does food coloring spread faster in hot water than in cold water?
Hot water has faster-moving particles, increasing collisions and spreading the dye more quickly.
Why does a spoon left in hot water become hot to the touch?
Heat transfers from the warmer drink to the cooler spoon until equilibrium is reached. The metal is also conductive, allowing it to transfer energy easily.
When particles move closer together, what happens to their potential energy?
It decreases, because the forces of attraction are stronger.
Explain how particle arrangement and motion differ between solids, liquids, and gases.
Solids: particles tightly packed, vibrate
Liquids: close but can slide past
Gases: far apart, move freely.
Why is gold brick considered an element, but water (H2O) is not?
Copper contains only one type of atom, while water is a compound made of Hydroden and Oxygen atoms bonded together.
Explain how forces of attraction between particles differ in solids, liquids, and gases.
Solids: strong attractions keep particles tightly packed
Liquids: weaker attractions allow sliding
Gases: very weak attractions, particles move freely.
When ice melts in a drink, does the temperature of the drink increase, decrease, or stay the same? Explain.
It decreases at first because heat energy transfers from the drink to the ice until equilibrium is reached.
In a solid, which type of energy (kinetic or potential) is higher? Why?
Potential energy is higher. The particles have strong forces of attraction and vibrate in place with little kinetic energy.
Explain why a gas is compressible but solids are not.
Gas particles are far apart and can be squeezed closer together; solid particles are tightly packed with strong forces of attraction, so they cannot compress.
Compare the difference between an element and a compound using an example.
Element: oxygen (O₂), made of only oxygen atoms;
Compound: water (H₂O), made of two different elements bonded together.
During a phase change (like boiling), why does temperature stay constant even though energy is still being added?
Energy goes into increasing potential energy by breaking forces of attraction, not into raising kinetic energy.
Explain how energy transfers when an ice cube is placed in hot water, in terms of particle collisions.
Hot water particles collide with ice particles, transferring energy until both reach thermal equilibrium.
Explain the relationship between forces of attraction, potential energy, and state of matter.
Stronger forces of attraction = lower potential energy (solids); weaker forces = higher potential energy (liquids/gases).