Changes in Matter/Phase Change

 the reversible physical change that occurs when a substance changes from one state of matter to another.
 During a phase change, E is transferred between a substance and its surroundings
 Energy is either absorbed or released during a phase change
 Endothermic change: system absorbs energy from surroundings (heat enters)
 Exothermic change: system releases energy to its surroundings (heat exits)
1. Melting - a phase transition from the solid phase to liquid phase. (solid to liquid)
 When a solid is heated, heat energy is absorbed. This causes the particles to gain kinetic energy and to
vibrate faster.
 At a certain temperature (melting point), the vibrations become so violent that the particles are able to
overcome some of the attractive forces between them and break away from each other.
 Examples:
 Ice to water - Ice melts back into water when it is left out at temperatures above the freezing point of
32 degrees.  
 Rocks to lava - Rocks in volcanoes can be heated until they are molten lava.
 Metal to molten liquid - Metals such as steel and bronze can be molten down. They can also be
reformed as solids.
2. Freezing – a phase transition from the liquid phase to solid phase. (liquid to solid)
 When a liquid is cooled, heat energy is released. This causes the particles to lose kinetic energy and to vibrate
slower.
 At a certain temperature (freezing point), the vibrations become so slow that the particles are unable to overcome
the attractive forces between them and are drawn towards each other in orderly and fixed positions.
 Examples:
 Water to ice - Water becomes cold enough that it turns into ice.  In fact, every known liquid (except
for helium) is known to freeze in low enough temperatures.  
 Liquid to crystals - Most liquids freeze by a process that is known as "crystallization," whereby the
liquid forms into what is known in the scientific world as a "crystalline solid."
3. Vaporization - a phase transition from the liquid phase to gas phase. (liquid to gas)
• endothermic (absorbs energy)
vapor – molecules that escape from the liquid and go into the gaseous phase.
Types:
a. Evaporation
• Takes place at the surface of a liquid and occurs at temperatures below the boiling point
• The molecules near the surface are moving fast enough to escape the liquid and become water vapor.
• Example:
 Water evaporates - Water evaporates from a puddle or a pool during a hot summer’s day.
b. Boiling
• When a liquid is heated, heat energy is absorbed. This causes the particles to gain kinetic energy and move
faster.
• At a certain temperature (boiling point), the vibrations become so violent that the particles throughout the
liquid are able to break away from the forces holding them together.
• Example:
 Water to steam - Water is vaporized when it is boiled on the stove to cook some pasta, and much of it
forms into a thick steam.  
Note: Both involve the change of state from liquid to gas.
4. Condensation - a phase transition from gas phase to liquid phase
 exothermic (heat energy is released)
 Examples:
 Water vapor to dew - Water vapor turns from a gas into a liquid, such as dew on the morning grass.  
 Water vapor to liquid water - Water vapor fogs up glasses when moving into a warm room after being in
the cold
 Water vapor to liquid water - Water vapor forms water droplets on the glass of a cold beverage.
5. Sublimation – a phase transition directly from a solid phase to gas phase. (solid to gas)
• When the solid is heated, heat energy is absorbed. Particles gain kinetic energy and move faster.
• At a certain temperature the vibrations become so violent that the particles break free completely from each
other, and move randomly.
• Examples:
 Dry Ice - Solid carbon dioxide is known as "dry ice" and sublimates at room temperature.
 Freeze-drying - Water can be sublimated in a food product by using a vacuum.
6. Deposition - a phase transition directly from a gas phase to solid phase. (gas to solid)
 To occur, thermal energy must be removed from a gas (exothermic).
 Example:
 Water vapor to ice - Water vapor transforms directly into ice without becoming a liquid, a process that
often occurs on windows during the winter months.
 Frost forms on a leaf - When the leaf becomes cold enough, water vapor in the air surrounding the leaf
loses enough thermal energy to change into a solid.