Solids, Liquids & Gases
Which state of matter has a fixed shape and volume?
Solid
In solids, are particles tightly packed or spread out?
Tightly packed
What is the change from solid to liquid called?
Melting
What do particles gain when a substance is heated?
Kinetic energy
Which state of matter is in an ice cube?
Solid
Which state of matter takes the shape of its container but has a fixed volume?
Liquid
How do particles in a liquid move compared to solids?
They can slide past each other.
What is the change from liquid to gas called?
Evaporation or boiling
Why does cooling a gas slow down the particles?
They lose kinetic energy.
Which state of matter is the air we breathe?
Gas
Which state of matter can be compressed the most?
Gas
Why can’t solids be compressed easily?
Particles are tightly packed together.
What is sublimation?
Change directly from solid to gas.
What is the name for the energy needed to change state without changing temperature?
Latent heat
Why are tiny droplets present on a glass filled with cold drink on a hot day?
Water vapour in the air condenses into liquid on the cold surface of the can.
What happens to particles in a solid when it melts?
They gain energy, vibrate more, and break free from fixed positions.
What keeps particles in a liquid close together but not fixed?
Weak forces of attraction.
Why does temperature stay constant during melting?
Energy goes into breaking bonds, not raising temperature.
Why does sweating cool you down?
Sweat evaporates, taking heat away from skin.
Why does a balloon shrink when put in a freezer?
Gas particles move slower → less pressure.
Why do gases expand to fill all available space?
Gas particles move randomly and spread out.
Why does diffusion happen faster in gases than in liquids?
Gas particles move faster and have more space between them.
What is the difference between evaporation and boiling?
Evaporation happens at the surface, slowly; boiling happens throughout the liquid, quickly.
Why does ice float on water in terms of particle arrangement?
Ice has an open structure → less dense than water.
How does deodorant spray work using the particle model?
Liquid inside evaporates → gas particles spread out to fill the room.