GENERAL CHEMISTRY MODULE 1

CHAPTER 1: KINETIC PARTICLE THEORY

1.1 States of Matter

Matter
● A substance that has mass and occupies space.
● All living and non-living things.
● Exists as a solid, liquid or gas.
○ Three forms of matter are called the states of matter.

Property Solid Liquid Gas

Shape fixed not fixed not fixed

Volume fixed fixed not fixed

Compressiblity Cannot be Cannot be Can be

compressed compressed compressed

Plasma
● Similar to gas
● Made up of particles that are electrically charged.

Bose-Einstein Condensate
● State of matter that has been cooled to a very low temperature.

1.2 KINETIC PARTICLE THEORY

The word ‘kinetic’ refers to motion. Moving particles have kinetic energy, hence the name
‘kinetic particle theory’.

Kinetic Particle Theory

● Describes the state of matter
● Explains the differences in the properties of solids, liquids and gases;
● Explains the changes in the state of matter.
The Solid State
● Are closely packed together in an orderly manner
● Are held together by very strong forces of attraction;
● Have enough kinetic energy to only vibrate and rotate about their fixed positions;
● Cannot move about freely.
● Hence, a solid is a fixed shape.

Why does a solid have a fixed volume?

● A solid cannot be compressed since its particles are already very close to one another.

The Liquid State

● Are arranged in a disorderly manner;
● Have weaker forces of attractrion than the particles of a solid;
● Have more kinetic energy than particles of the same substance in the solid state, and
are not held in fixed positions;
● Can move freely throught the liquid.

Why does a liquid have a fixed volume?

● The particles are further away from one another.
○ However, the liquid particles are still packed quite closely together.

The Gaseous State

● Are spread apart from one another.
● Have weaker forces of attraction than the particles of a liquid;
● Have a lot of kinetic energy and are not held in fixed positions;
● Can move about rapidly in any direction.

Why does a gas not have fixed volume?

● The particles have a lot more space between them.
● The large space between the particles allows the gas to be easily compressed when
pressure is applied.
○ Therefore, the particles can be forced to move closer together.
Characteristics Solid Liquid Gas

Arrangement of ● Orderly ● Disorderly ● Disorderly

particles ● Closely ● Less closely ● Very far apart
packed packed than
in a solid

Attractive forces Very strong Strong Very weak

between particles

Kinetic energy of Very low Low High

particles

Motion of particles Vibrate and rotate Move freely Move about rapidly in
about fixed positions throughout the liquid any direction

1.3 Changes in State of Matter and the Kinetic Particle Theory

● Matter can change from one state to another.

● When matter is heated or cooled, the heat energy taken in or out given out causes the
kinetic energy of the particles to change.
● Changes in state are reversible.

Melting
● Is the process by which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid.

Melting Point
● The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid
What happens to the particles of a solid that is heated until it melts?
1. Heat energy is absorbed by the particles of the solid.

● The heat energy is converted into kinetic energy.

● The particles start to vibrate faster about their fixed positions.

2. When the temperature is high enough, the vibrations of the particles become sufficient to
overcome the forces of attraction between them.

● The particles begin to break away from their fixed positions.

3. The particles are no longer in their fixed positions.

● The substance is now a liquid.

● The particles can move freely throughout the liquid.

How does the temperature of a solid change when it melts?

● As heat is applied to a solid, its temperature will increase until the melting point is
reached.
● More heat then will convert the solid into a liquid with no temperature change.
○ When all the solid has melted, additional heat will raise the temperature of the
liquid.

Heating Curve
● Shows how the temperature of a solid changes as it is heated to its melting point and
beyond.
● A-B: Solid heats up.
○ The temperature of the solid increases until it reaches its melting point.
○ At poing B, the solid starts to melt.

● B-C: Solid melts.

○ During melting, the temperature of the solid does not rise even though heating
continues.
○ Heat energy taken in by the particles of the solid is used to overcome the forces
of attraction holding the particles in fixed positions.
○