States of matter

Particles in a solid:
- Arrangement:
• Regular repeating pattern
• Close together, touching each other
- Movement:
• Vibrate about fixed positions but do not move apart
- Forces between particles:
• Stronger than in a liquid
- Shape:
• Fixed shape and volume

Particles in a liquid:
- Arrangement:
• Irregular
• Close together and touching each other
- Movement:
• Move around and slide past one another
- Forces between particles:
• Not as strong as solid
- Shape:
• No fixed shape (takes shape of container) but fixed volume

Particles in a gas:
- Arrangement:
• Irregular
• Far apart
- Movement:
• Move freely and collide with each other
- Forces between particles:
• Non-existent
- Shape:
• No fixed shape or volume
Interconversion:

Melting the process of converting from solid to liquid due to increase in temperature.

Melting point the temperature at which a solid starts to melt, eg. ice melts at 0 °C.
Boiling the process of converting from liquid to gas due to increase in temperature. Also known
as vaporisation.
Boiling point the temperature at which a liquid starts to boil, eg. water boils at 100 °C.
Condensation the process by which a gas turns to liquid.
Sublimation the process by which a solid turns directly to gas without melting.
Solidification the process by which a gas turns directly to solid.
Evaporation the process by which a liquid turns to a gas below its boiling point.
Volatile liquids that evaporate at room temperature.

Arrangement, Movement & Energy:

- Solid to Liquid:
Heat solid until it melts. When a solid is heated the particles gain kinetic energy and start to
vibrate faster about their fixed position. When the temperature is high enough, the vibration of
particles becomes sufficient to overcome the forces of attraction between them. The
particles begin to break away from their regular pattern. They can now slide past each other. The
solid becomes a liquid.
- Liquid to Solid:
Cool liquid until it freezes. When a liquid is cooled, the particles lose their kinetic energy.
When the temperature is low enough, the particles no longer have the energy to slide over each
other. The forces of attraction can hold the particles together in a regular pattern. The substance
becomes solid.
- Liquid to Gas:
Heat the liquid until it boils. When a liquid is heated, the particles gain kinetic energy and
mover further apart. Eventually, the attractive forces in the liquid are broken. Bubbles of
gaseous particles escape from the liquid. The substance becomes gas.
- Gas to Liquid:
Cool the gas until it condenses. When a gas is cooled, the particles lose kinetic energy and the
attractive forces become great enough to keep the particles closer together as a liquid.
- Solid to Gas:
Heat the solid until it sublimes. The solid particles gain kinetic energy and vibrate faster.
Eventually, the forces of attraction between the particles are completely broken and they escape
from the solid as a gas.
Solutions & solubility:

Diffusion and dilution experiments support a theory that all matter (solids, liquids and gases) is
made up of tiny, moving particles.

- Diffusion 1: Bromine Gas:

Description:
• Here, we see the diffusion of bromine gas from one flask
to another.
• After 5 minutes the bromine gas has diffused from the
bottom flask to the top flask.
Explanation: 
• The air and bromine particles are moving randomly and
there are large gaps between particles.
• The particles can therefore easily mix together.

- Diffusion 2: Potassium Manganate Solution (VII)

Description:
• When potassium manganate (VII) crystals are dissolved
in water, a purple solution is formed.
• A small number of crystals produce a highly intense
colour.
Explanation: 
• The water and potassium manganate (VII) particles are
moving randomly and the particles can slide over each
other.
• The particles can therefore easily mix together.
• Diffusion in liquids is slower than in gases because the
particles in a liquid are closely packed together and
move more slowly.
- Dilution of Coloured Solutions:

Description:
• When potassium magnate (VII) crystals are dissolved in
water, the solution can be diluted several times.
• The colour fades but does not disappear until a lot of
dilutions have been done.
Explanation:
• This indicates that there are a lot of particles in a small
amount of potassium magnate (VII) and therefore the
particles must be very small.