MODULE 5: Changes in Matter

CMU Digital Academics

CHANGES IN MATTER

Physical Change Chemical Change

Phase No new substance formed New substance formed

Examples
Changes

Evaporation Rusting of iron

Melting Burning of paper

Freezing Fireworks

Condensation Cooking an egg

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CMU Digital Academics

Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learner is expected to:

❑ discuss the different phases of matter and the changes it may

undergo;
❑ demonstrate and describe processes of changing phases of
matter effectively;
❑ create instructional materials and prepare simple activities
using the improvised materials to compare and demonstrate
how different phases change to another phase.

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 INTRODUCTION
The general properties of matter – mass, weight, volume, and density – are
examples of physical properties. Physical properties are characteristics of matter
that can be observed without changing the identity of the substance. Ice, liquid
water, and water vapor may look very different from each other, but they are all
made of exactly the same substance in different states. These states are called
phases. Phase is another important physical property of matter. Phases of matter
is used to classify the various kinds of matter in the world.
A change of state is the conversion of a substance from one phase to another. All
these changes in the phase of matter are physical changes. Remember that in a
physical change, the identity or chemical structure of a substance does not change.
Changes that occur which alter the composition of matter are called chemical
changes. Chemical changes are those in which new substances with new
properties are formed.
 PHASES OF MATTER
We call a block of ice a solid. It may melt and from a liquid. As it evaporates,
liquid water changes into a vapor or gas. Even iron, a solid, may be melted and
converted into a liquid. When iron is boiled, it forms iron vapor. Matter exists
either in the solid, liquid, gaseous, or plasma state and may undergo a change
from one state to another under suitable conditions.
 Solids
A block of wood placed on a table keeps its shape and its volume. To change its
shape or its volume, you would have to use considerable external force on the block. A solid
does not need a container or a side support to prevent it from losing its shape. If you try to
put a square block of wood into a round hole, it will not fit. The wood has a definite shape. If
you try to put the block of wood into a space that is too small, it will also not fit. The wood
has a definite volume. Solids have both a definite shape and a definite volume.
 Solids
The structure of solid is generally well ordered. The particles of solids are closely packed
and rigidly bound into fixed positions to give it its definite size and shape. And because of
this arrangement, the particles cannot flow over or around one another. However, in a
solid, the tightly packed particles are able to vibrate
If the particles of solids are arranged in a regular and repeating patterns, called
crystals, the solids are called crystalline solids. A good example of crystalline solid is the
common salt. On the other hand, solids in which the particles are not arranged in a
regular
repeating pattern are called amorphous solids. Some amorphous solids change their shape
easily when they are warmed, but become hard when cooled. Candle wax and window
glass are examples of amorphous solids.
 Liquids
If we pour water on top of the table, the water is not rigid, it flows out over the
surface. A liquid must have side support or container to retain its shape. For that reason, a
liquid takes the shape of its container. But a liquid has a definite volume. A 500 mL liquid
cannot be expanded into a bigger container or compressed into a smaller container.
However, its shape changes each time you pour it in a different container.
Liquids, having a definite volume, can have a free surface, that is, a surface
unbounded by the container. Thus, water may be contained in an open vessel. The free or
the upper surface of a liquid lies in a plane perpendicular to the force acting on it. In the
normal case of a liquid at rest, this force is gravity and the free surface of the liquid lies in the
horizontal plane.
The particles of a liquid are closely packed, but they are not bound to a fixed
position. A liquid has fluidity; its structure is less orderly than that of solid and is without
shape. Liquids (and gases) are known as fluids. These are materials that flow readily and
require vessels to contain them. We think of solids as being rigid, yet none is perfectly rigid.
Butter, for example, may not be very solid on a warm solid day.
 Gases
If we inflate a car tire, we find that air takes the shape of the tire, which is its
container. The tire is really full of air, but if a blowout occurs, the escaping air expands in
volume. A 500 mL of liquid does not expand and form a liter if it is put into a liter bottle.
However, a 500 mL of gas would expand and occupy all that space if it were placed in a really
empty liter bottle. Gases have neither a definite volume nor a definite shape. This makes it
difficult to measure the volume of gases. If they warmed, they expand, but their volume is
reduced when the pressure on them is increased. In measuring the volume of a gas, we must
specify both the temperature and the pressure to which it is subjected.
Fluids that cannot exists as liquids, having a free surface at ordinary conditions of
temperature and pressure, are correctly termed gases. Vapor is the term used for the
gaseous state of substances which normally exists as liquids or solids. Thus, we speak of
water vapor and oxygen gas. For ordinary purposes, matter in the gaseous state must be
bounded on all sides by a container. Gases are fluids that do not have a free surface. The
particles of a gas are widely dispersed in a completely random, disorganized fashion.
Comparison of Solid, Liquid, and Gas
Basis Solid Liquid Gas
not definite (takes the not definite (takes the
Shape definite
shape of its container) shape of its container)
not definite (will
Volume definite definite
expand)
cannot be significantly cannot be significantly can be significantly
Compression
compressed compressed compressed

Flow does not flow flows flows

Energy low medium high

particles completely
Spacing of particles closely packed particles loosely packed particles
separated
particles vibrate in place
particles move fast and
Movement of particles particles vibrate in place over and around each
far in all directions
other
 Plasma
The fourth state of matter is called plasma. When matter is heated to a very high
temperature, the energy becomes so great and produces the plasma. Plasma is not so
common on Earth, but still the plasma phase is the most common state of matter in the
universe. Our visible universe is composed of more than 99% plasma; however, most of these
are not visible. It makes up the components of our Sun and the core of Stars. Plasma also
occurs in quasars, pulsars emitted by x-ray beam, and supernovas. On Earth, plasma occurs
naturally in flames, lightning, and the auroras.
 PHYSICAL CHANGES
Ice melts, water boils, liquids freeze, glass breaks, and sugar dissolves in water. We
may heat a piece of platinum wire until it glows. In theses cases, matter undergoes some
change. Its form may be different or it may have experienced a change of state energy.
However, in no case has the matter lost its identity. Sometimes, by a reversal of the action
that caused the change, the material may be restored to its original form and the same
identifying properties are again readily recognized.
In such changes, only alterations in physical properties are apparent, the
composition of the material is not changed. Physical changes are those in which the
identifying properties of substances remained unchanged.
Change in the phase of matter is another common example of physical change
because most matter can change from one phase to another. During a change in state of
matter, the energy of a substance also changes. The energy of a substance is directly
proportional to the motion of the particles of the substance. For example, the energy of water
is greater than the equal volume of ice. Likewise, the molecules of liquid water move faster
than the molecules of the ice.
 PHYSICAL CHANGES
Ice melts, water boils, liquids freeze, glass breaks, and sugar dissolves in water. We
may heat a piece of platinum wire until it glows. In theses cases, matter undergoes some
change. Its form may be different or it may have experienced a change of state energy.
However, in no case has the matter lost its identity. Sometimes, by a reversal of the action
that caused the change, the material may be restored to its original form and the same
identifying properties are again readily recognized.
In such changes, only alterations in physical properties are apparent, the
composition of the material is not changed. Physical changes are those in which the
identifying properties of substances remained unchanged.
Change in the phase of matter is another common example of physical change
because most matter can change from one phase to another. During a change in state of
matter, the energy of a substance also changes. The energy of a substance is directly
proportional to the motion of the particles of the substance. For example, the energy of water
is greater than the equal volume of ice. Likewise, the molecules of liquid water move faster
than the molecules of the ice.
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
You know that wood burns, iron rusts, silver tarnishes, milk sours, plants decay, and
acids react with metals. In each of these actions, the identifying properties of the original
substance are altered and new substance with different properties are recognized. Changes
that occur which alter the composition of matter are chemical changes. Chemical changes
are those in which new substances with new properties are formed.
Chemical actions may involve the combining of atoms of elementary substances to
form compounds. Complex substances may be broken down into simpler compounds or into
the elements that compose them. Compounds may react with other compounds or
elements to form new and different compounds. The science of chemistry is concerned
specifically with the chemical changes of substances and with methods of controlling these
changes.
Chemical changes involve energy. Chemical changes are always accompanied by
energy changes. Substances possess energy because of their composition and structure. This
is a kind of potential energy that chemists generally refer to as chemical energy. The
products of chemical changes are different in composition and structure from the original
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
substances, and thus, will have larger or smaller amounts of chemical energy. If the amount
is smaller, energy will be liberated during the change, usually in the form of heat and
sometimes light or electric energy. If the amount of chemical energy is larger, energy will be
absorbed during the change.
Any chemical change that absorbs heat energy as it progresses is said to be
endothermic. Heat is absorbed continuously while such chemical actions are taking place.
Some chemical changes are of importance because of their products. Others are carried out
because of the energy that is released. In the burning of fuels, large amounts of heat energy
are released rapidly. Many similar changes occur in nature but take place so slowly that the
evolution of heat is not noticed. Any chemical change that liberates heat energy as it
proceeds is said to be exothermic. The majority of chemical changes that occur in nature are
exothermic. The photosynthesis process of green plants is a notable exception; this reaction
is endothermic.
 REFERENCES/TEXTBOOK/LINKS

• A Course Module for: TEACHING SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY GRADES

(Biology and Chemistry)
• Science Beyond Borders Textbook Grade 3
• Science Beyond Borders Textbook Grade 4
• Science Beyond Borders Textbook Grade 5
• Science Beyond Borders Textbook Grade 6
• www.education.com>lesson-plans

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