Changes of State

In general, how does matter change from one state to another? As you may have
guessed, changes in energy are involved. Changes of state are physical changes in
matter. They are reversible changes that do not involve changes in matter’s
chemical makeup or chemical properties. Common changes of state include
melting, freezing, sublimation, deposition, condensation, and vaporization. 

Changes in the state of matter.

Energy is always involved in changes of state. Matter either loses or absorbs energy
when it changes from one state to another.  For example, when matter changes
from a liquid to a solid, it loses energy. The opposite happens when matter changes
from a solid to a liquid. For a solid to change to a liquid, matter must absorb energy
from its surroundings. When energy is added, the particles move faster; when
energy is removed, the particles of matter move more slowly. The amount of
energy in matter can be measured with a thermometer. That’s because a
thermometer measures temperature, and temperature is the average kinetic
energy of the particles of matter. 

Changes between solids and liquids: 

The process in which a liquid changes to a solid is called freezing. Energy is taken

away during freezing. The temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid is its
freezing point. The process in which a solid changes to a liquid is called melting.
Energy is added during melting. The melting point is the temperature at which a
solid changes to a liquid.

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Changes between liquids and gases:

If water gets hot enough, it starts to boil. Bubbles of water vapor form in boiling
water. This happens as particles of liquid water gain enough energy to completely
overcome the force of attraction between them and change to the gaseous state.  
The bubbles rise through the water and escape from the pot as steam. The process
in which a liquid boils and changes to a gas is called vaporization. The temperature
at which a liquid boils is its boiling point. A liquid can also change to a gas without
boiling. This process is called evaporation. It occurs when particles at the exposed
surface of a liquid absorb just enough energy to pull away from the liquid and
escape into the air.  This happens faster at warmer temperatures. Energy is added
during evaporation and vaporization.  The process in which a gas changes to a liquid
is called condensation. Energy is removed during condensation, changing a gas to a
liquid. 

Changes between solids and gases: 

Solids that change to gases generally first pass through the liquid state. However,
sometimes solids change directly to gases and skip the liquid state. The reverse can
also occur. Sometimes gases change directly to solids. The process in which a solid
changes directly to a gas is called sublimation. Energy is added during sublimation.
It occurs when the particles of a solid absorb enough energy to completely
overcome the force of attraction between them. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide, CO 2)
is an example of a solid that undergoes sublimation. The opposite of sublimation
is deposition. Energy is taken away during sublimation. This is the process in which
a gas changes directly to a solid without going through the liquid state. It occurs
when gas particles become very cold. For example, when water vapor in the air
contacts a very cold windowpane, the water vapor may change to tiny ice crystals
on the glass (frost). 

Changes in state are physical changes: we do not get something "new" in the sense
that the substance has not been chemically altered. Here are some examples to
think about:

1. Ice cream vs. melted ice cream

2. Ice cube vs. water (melted ice) vs. water vapor
3. Chocolate vs. melted chocolate

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 Changing states

Introduction

Solids, liquids and gases are called the three states of matter. Materials can be changed from
one state to another by heating or cooling.

Water can be observed as a liquid, a solid (ice), or a gas (water vapour) and moves around the
environment in a process known as the water cycle.

This section includes:

 States of matter
 Solids and liquids
 Temperature
 The water cycle

States of matter
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Solids, liquids and gases are called the three states of matter.

Materials can be changed from one state to another by heating or cooling.

Heating

 If ice (solid) is heated, it changes to water (liquid). This change is called melting.

 Water (liquid) can change to water vapour (gas). This is called evaporation.

 If water (liquid) is heated until it boils, it changes to water vapour (gas) very quickly.
Water boils at 100°C

Cooling

 If water vapour (gas) is cooled, it changes to water (liquid). This change is called
condensing.

 If water (liquid) is cooled, it changes to ice (solid). This change is called freezing.
Water freezes at 0°C

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Solids and liquids

Heat melts a solid and turns it into a liquid. Cooling freezes a liquid into a solid.

Different solids melt at different temperatures, some high, some low. These are called their
melting points.

Heating

Heat can change solids into liquids or gases.

 Most solids melt into liquid when they are heated.

 A liquid evaporates into a gas when it is heated.

Cooling

When we cool something we take heat away from it. Cooling changes a gas into a liquid, and a
liquid into a solid.

 A gas condenses into a liquid when it is cooled.

 A liquid freezes into a solid when it is cooled.

Melting points

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Different solids melt at different temperatures. Ice melts at 0 degrees Celcius (0°C). Chocolate
melts at about 35°C. We say that chocolate has a higher melting point than ice.

Metals, like aluminium and iron, also melt when we heat them. They have very high melting
points. They have to be very hot to melt.

Temperature

Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold things are. You need a thermometer to measure
temperature.

Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (°C).

 Ice melts at exactly 0°C.

 A hot bath is about 40°C

 Water boils at exactly 100°C

The water cycle

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Water on the earth is constantly moving. It is recycled over and over again. This recycling
process is called the water cycle.

a. Water evaporates into the air

The sun heats up water on land, and in rivers, lakes and seas and turns it into water vapour.
The water vapour rises into the air.

b. Water vapour condenses into clouds

Water vapour in the air cools down and changes back into tiny drops of liquid water, forming
clouds.

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c. Water falls as rain
The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain or snow.

d. Water returns to the sea

Rain water runs over the land and collects in lakes or rivers, which take it back to the sea. The
cycle starts all over again.