How small these particles?

We have learnt about the matter that matter is made up extremely small particles. To
know how the small are these particles, let us take 2-3 crystals of any dye (Red
powdered coloured) and dissolve is 100 ml of water, we notice that whole water
becomes red in colour. Not take some water (red coloured water) in another 100 ml of
water (clean water), now we notice that again clean water becomes red in colour , do
this activity 3 to 4 more times. It is surprisingly to note that the red colour will not
disappear altogether though it becomes lighter and lighter with each dilution Thus we
conclude that there must be millions and millions of tiny particles in one crystal of red
coloured dye which keeps on dividing into smaller and smaller in number with each
dilution thereby making the colour lighter and lighter.

Hence matter is made up extremely very small tiny particles.

For example: in one drop of water contain 1021 particles of water

𝑖. 𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1000000000000000000000 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟.

Characteristics of Particles

 Particles of matter have some space between then

 Particles of matter are continuously moving.
 Particles of matter attract each other.

States of matter: Matter around us is exists in three forms. These are Solid, liquid and
gas.

Property Solid Liquid Gas

1 Definition It is a form of It is a form of It is a form of
matter which matter which matter which
possesses possesses possesses
rigidity, is fluidity but is fluidity but is
incompressible almost highly
and hence it incompressible compressible
has a definite hence has and hence gas
shape and a definite volume has no definite
 definite volume but no definite shape and no
shape. definite volume
2 packing The The constituent The constituent
particles are free to
constituents particles are move in space,
particles are less closely Intermolecular
distance is very large
very closely packed. The
packed. intermolecular
Intermolecular space is some
space are greater than
almost zero. solids

3. Shape Fixed no no
4 Volume Same Same No
5 Compressibility No No Yes
6 Fluidity No Yes Yes
7 Energy Their particles Their particles Particles of
have minimum have energy gases have
energy greater than maximum
particles of energy.
solids that’s
why they are
moving
8 Diffusion No Yes Yes

Other states of matter:

Plasma: This state consists of super energetic and super excited particles. These
particles are in the form of ionised gases. The fluorescent tube and neon sign bulbs
contains plasma. In fluorescent tube there is a helium gas or some other gas while in
neon sign bulb there is a neon gas. When electricity is passed, the gas get ionised and
glowing plasma is formed. The colour of this glowing plasma depends upon the nature
of gas. The Sun and the Stars are glow due to the present of plasma. The plasma in
stars and sun is formed due to high temperature.
Bose-Einstein Condensate: 1920, Indian Physicist Satyendra Nath Bose had done some
calculations on the fifth state of matter. Based on these calculations, Albert Einstein
predicted a new state of matter called Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). BEC is formed
1 1
when a gas having very low density, of the order of 𝑡𝑜 of the density of
100 1000
normal air, is cooled to super low temperature. In 2001, Eric A Cornell, Wolfgang
Ketterle and Carl E Wieman of USA shared the Nobel prize in physics for achieving
“Bose Einstein Condensate”.