Matter in Our Surroundings

States of Matter

Solids have definite shape, volume and cannot be compressed

Liquids flow, have definite volume and take the shape of the container

Gases do not have definite volume, but take the shape of the container

Particles of matter are small in size and have space between them

In solids, particles have high force of attraction and less inter-molecular space

In liquids, particles have less force of attraction and more inter-molecular space

In gases, particles have less force of attraction and large inter-molecular space

Interconversion of States of Matter

Interconversion of states is the phenomenon of the change of matter from one state
to another and back to original state, by altering the temperature.

The process where a solid changes to a liquid is called melting.

Latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat energy required to change 1kilogram of
a solid into liquid.

The process where a liquid changes to gas at its boiling point is called vaporisation.
Latent heat of vaporisation is the amount of heat required to change a unit mass of
liquid to gas at atmospheric pressure.

Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes into vapour at any temperature
below its boiling point.

The factors effecting evaporation are:

 Surface area
 Temperature
 Wind speed

The process where vapour changes into a liquid is called condensation.

The process where a liquid changes into a solid is freezing.

Sublimation is the process where a solid, on heating, directly changes into gas
without changing into liquid, and a gas on cooling directly changes to solid without
changing into liquid.

Applying pressure and reducing temperature can liquefy gases.