The Six Phase Changes

Solid to Liquid
The process of a solid turning to a liquid is called melting.
During this process, the particles in the solid are moving faster back and forth, causing them to
become less organized and become further apart. This makes the solid to heat up, and melt.
The reason for the particles to move faster, is because the substance absorbs, or takes in
energy. Examples of this, is ice cream melting, ice melting,and snow being warmed by the sun.

Liquid to Solid
When a liquid changes to a solid, the particles of the liquid freeze. This process is called
freezing. During the process of freezing, the particles will become organized, will become closer
together, and the particles will move slower.
This happens, because the liquids particles are slowing down because it is releasing energy.
Examples of this, is water freezing and expanding in a water bottle, lakes freezing, and frost
forming on grass.

Liquid to Gas
This phase change is called Vaporization.
During the process of Evaporation, the molecules speed up, spread out even more, and bounce
around. The molecules are not aligned, they are all over the place, and have no distinct pattern.
Examples of this, is boiling water, smoke from a fire, and steam.

Solid to a gas
This phase change is called Sublimation
During this rare process, a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing
through the intermediate liquid phase. When sublimation occurs (solid changes directly to gas
phase, skipping liquid state), the molecules in that solid experience much weaker attractive
forces and, as a result, the molecules are more spread out. The chemical composition does not
change. An example of Sublimation is dry ice.

Gas to a solid
This phase change is called deposition.
During this process, thermal energy is removed from the object. One example of deposition is
the process by which, in sub-freezing air, water vapor changes directly to ice without first
becoming a liquid.

Gas to a liquid
This phase change is called condensation.
During this process, water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in
contact with it. One example of this process, is having a cold soda on a hot day, the can
"sweats." Water molecules in the air as a vapor hit the colder surface of the can and turn into
liquid water.