Changes of state and the particle model

Learning outcomes
After completing this worksheet, you should be able to:
 use the particle model to explain changes of state
 apply the particle model to recognising physical and chemical changes.

Starter Task
List two ways in which a physical change is different from a chemical change.

Questions
1 The box below shows some changes of state.

melting freezing evaporation boiling condensation

Using the words listed in the box:

a Give the changes of state that occur with the absorption of heat.

(1 mark)

b Give the changes of state that involve the smallest change in disorder of the
particles.

(1 mark)

c Give the changes of state that do not occur at a fixed temperature.

(1 mark)

2 When water is heated a physical change occurs and it forms steam.

When a lighted splint is applied to hydrogen gas, a chemical change occurs
producing water in the form of steam.
Explain how these two statements show two differences between physical and
chemical changes.

(2 marks)
3 The graph below shows how the temperature of ice in a beaker changes as it is
gently heated until it becomes steam.

a Using the Internet or textbooks, explain why the temperature at the melting
and boiling point stays the same, although heat is still being applied to the
beaker.

(2 marks)

b Use the Internet or textbooks to find a similar graph for the cooling of paraffin
wax until it freezes. Explain why the line on the graph is not horizontal at the
freezing point.

(2 marks)

4 In a famous experiment, a biologist named Brown examined tiny particles

of pollen floating in water under a microscope. He observed that the pollen
particles were constantly moving in a random manner. However, pollen particles
on their own did not show this movement.
Use the Internet or textbooks to explain his observations.

(2 marks)