2 Nature of Matte

ne buitding hlocks-
Through our five senses, we enjoy the bounty and
We see
beauty of nature, in all its incredible diversity.
animals,
huge mountains, unfathomed seas, fascinating all these
a variety of intriguing plants and so on. Yet,
are made
objects, and everything else in the universe,
called atoms. Have you ever
up ofvery minute particles
wondered why all these objects are so different fronm
each other?

ates ofmatter
We come across the three basic states of
matter, namely solid, liquid, and gaseous
states, in our daily life.
We have even experienced the practical
conditions governing the change of one state of matter into another.
However,a fourth state of matter called the 'plasma state' and even a
fifth state called the "Bose-Einstein condensate' have beenidentified.
What are these?
Why are they called so? What are their basic properties and the factors
governing these states of matter?

Whydoes the plasma state not normally exist on the earth?

Whyis it that onlysome solids are sublimable while most are not
 subdivision

the
v i e w that The
the stage.
D e m o c r i t u s
was
of after a
certain
called
were
whereas possible s u b d i v i d e d

was not further cuttable' or

matter
n o t be 'not
of could
Greek
m e a n s

that
which was
in two
views
particles atomos

ofliving word of t h e
variety atoms.
The interesting
part these
c o n c l u s i o n s

MATTER incredible hidden

The arrived at
an of the divisible. happenings
surrounded by think not and
D e m o c r i t u s

of the
Can you Aristotle
o b s e r v a t i o n s
to
We are
things. both their support

basis of
food
the
e x p e r i m e n t a l

non-living
and things? breathe, the no more

all these
was

in the air
we different, only o n and
there are
recognised
ikenesses
on, walk entirely around
them Hence, they
we
d r i n k all
seem which
The ground findings.
we
similarities
their stated
the water
establish scientists can be
eat, and
not-so-obvious
than as matter
we
some philosophers definition
of offers
have and
let us
as space
yet they
are surprisingly important.
likenesses,
present-day occupies definition
hidden of The has mass,

make o u t
the remind you which to this
in order to This may
any
thing According
our
senses

(Fig. 2.1).
as matter.

activity is called feel through or

an crow. resistance touch our
perform wise through
be felt
can
the
famous story of everything
that w e
Energy
can
does not
the matter. but it
called as
-

be electricity
can
heat and does it o c c u p y
capacity, such a s nor
250 ml mass
-

of about water.
senses
it has n o
because
vessel with
Take a of it form
matter
Fill half water similarity
made of glass. to the any volume. important
preferably What happens that one
and
into it.
understood
space
object follows:
We have that they occupy
Drop a n will be a s is the
fact
other
common

b e t w e e n things
observations

at one
level? Your to look
we have
m a s s . Now,
have
common

have in
property
following things soft
What do the rock, tree,
ocean, jasmine, air,
book,
tiger, building, called
drink, car, ant?
made up of tiny particles
are
Rise in the All these things blocks of everything
Initial level level of water Atoms are the building different
are
of water
atoms.
However, there
around us and in us.
each other and
similar to
2.1. Matter occupies space Atoms are it
Fig. types of
atoms.
wood, does
feels different from
different. Iron the
yet atoms, but
both c o n t a i n
and oxygen
Conclusions: not? Carbon different. The particular
these atoms a r e
and the object occupy space. the composition of substances
decide
(a) Both water
at same
together to make
be in the same space atoms that a r e put
(b) Two things cannot taste, and
behave.

time. how the substances feel, weigh, all sanples

single, pure form of matter,
hidden
and that is the
All occupy space,
things A substance is a
are obviously
different. and properties.
likeness in them. Yet, they have identical composition
of which dozens of different kinds
of
There a r e only a few
number of ways
c o m m o n atoms, but there
are infinite
different kinds of matter.
more stories related to organise them into three
Can you recollect some has to do with
facts you know? Most of our experience with atoms
to other scientific them singiy
their combination rather than taking
alone. They combine
We and all the things around
up us, are made of Generally, atoms cannot stay and
o r different types)
matter. Air, water, the food we eat, our clothing, with other atoms (of s a m e type
atoms join
sun, the
the rocks, and mountains
moon, form substances. For example, many copper
dwellings, metal. A silicon atomn
are all matter. They have two
basic properties mass together to form a piece of copper
to form a substance
and volume.
and two oxygen atoms combine
Nature of matter has been a subject of discussion
from called sand, whose chemical name is silicon dioxide.
and
such Aristotle (384 Some gases such as xenon, neon, argon, helium,
the time of Greek philosophers
as
Aristotle was krypton contain only individual atoms or particles..
322 BC) and Democritus (460-370 BC).
of the view that matter could be subdivided indefinitely, Such smallestfreely existing particles of matter are calea
 Nature of Matter 7

esubdivision molecules, whereas atoms are the smallest particles of collection of charged particles that respond strongly and
astage. The fields, taking the form of
dwere called matter which are
incapable ofindependent existence. All
such arrangements exist in different states of matter.
collectivelyto electromagnetic
gas-like clouds or ion beams. Since the particles in plasma
t cuttable' or
are electrically charged (generally by being stripped of
ews was that
Classification of Matter Based on Physical electrons), it is frequently described as an ionised gas.
conclusions Plasma state is observed in flame, lightning. interstellar
happeninggs Properties nebule, stars, and even in the empty vastness of space.
support to Depending on how the atoms or molecules are packed, Bose-Einstein condensate which is regarded as
nised more substances are classified as solids, liquids, or gases. For the fifth state of matter is a gaseous superfluid phase
example, if they are very close to each other because of formed by atoms cooled to temperatures very near to
a be stated attractive forces between them, they are solids. absolute zero.
strong
and offers If there is not much attraction between them, then they The same substance can exist as a solid or a liquid or
definition stay as liquids. If there is very little attraction between a gas depending on the temperature.
our senses them, they are very far apart from each other and exist
rough ouur in the gaseous state. Figure 2.2 helps you to visualise
does not
this
idea. On the earth, matter exists in three states, namely, Phenomena such as heat, light, sound, and
it occupy solid, iquid, and gas. electricity do not come under the category of matter. Why?
What is the shape of air enclosed in an egg-shaped bottle?
similarityy
pace and Table 2.1 gives the characteristic properties of the
common three common states of matter.

mmon Table 2.1. Characteristics of states of matter

tree, soft Solid Liquid Gas
Solid Liquid Gas
Fig. 2.2. States of matter (a) Has a definite Has a definite Has neither a
les called volume and volume, but no definite shape nor
verything Examples: shape fixed shape; it a definite volume
different Solid iron, stone, table assumes the shape
ther and water, alcohol, milkk of the container
Liquid
, does it Gas methane, helium, nitrogen (b) Particles Particles are freely Particles are freely
but the are rigidly moving within moving. and
Solids are materials that have more or less fixed
articular packed the confined the gas occupies
s decide shape, and the atoms in a solid bind together with volume the entire space
sufficient strength to stay in place. Liquids have no fixed provided
e.

samples shape, but they occupy a fixed volume. (c) Particles are Particles are less Forces holding
Gases fill balloons, propel bullets, and form the held by strong strongly held the particles are
es. earths atmosphere. Generally, the gases in the air that forces
inds of negligible
you breathe are invisible, but you know that something (d) Almost Hard to compress Highly
of ways is there, especially when the wind blows strongly! The
atter. incompressible Compressible
distinctive feature of all the gases is their ability to
do with
expand, filling whatever volume is available. Table 2.2. Mass of one cubic centimetre
singly. Liquids and gases are fluids. They can flow easily
ombine andcan change their shapes. The interparticle force of Solid Liquid Gas
es) and attraction in liquids is much weaker than that in solids.
Silver 10.5 g Water 1 g Helium
ms join Hence, the particles in liquids can move with respect to 0.0001663g
n atom the neighbouring particles. Copper 8.96 g Mercury Hydrogen
bstance There are two more states of matter, namely, plasma 13.55g 0.0009 g
lioxide. and Bose-Einstein condensate. Iron 7 g Petrol 0.9g Steam
m, and Plasma is a distinct phase of matter, separate from 0.0006 g
rticles. the traditional solid, liquid, and gaseous phases. It is a Aluminium 2.7g
called
 state and the. actual composition
colour, shape, and unchanged is is F
of the substances remains
whereas mass substance t is
Change ofState
termed as physical
change. Here, no new
refrigerator, it tends state of the substance is attained
cube out of the is produced. formed and the orlginal
If you take an ice water on a stove, steanmthe
(temperature or pressure)
change
boil freezer of as s0on as the cause of
to melt.If you tray and put
in a
it in
has
that It s withdrawn. th
water the various change-of-state
f you take after
observe
some time you Figure 2.3 summarises
refrigerator,
a processes.
becomeice Processes?
These
Observe in All Liquid
WhatDid You in which
matter

examples of processes
became liquid;
All these are When ice melted, solid
changesits state. and when
Solidification
LiquefacEtivoanporation
when water was
became gas;
heated, liquid
liquid became
Melting
was placed
in the refrigerator,
the water that the s a m e
also see from this example
solid. We to another.
from o n e state
be changed in the types
substance can there any change Sublimation
this happen? Is
How does molecules?
Solld
ofatoms or molecules. Deposition
in the atoms or
No, there is no change as water 2.3. Change-of-state
processes
molecules are still present Fig.
That is, water we supply
then? When associated
molecules. What happens in it are able to the type of conversion
Can you suggest
to a solid, the particles
heat energy force of attraction
between
with the heating of camphor?
o v e r c o m e the
partially If
them and drift apart,
forming a liquid (melting).
the particles m o v e very Based on Chemical
s o m e m o r e energy, Classification
we supply to the gaseous
state (evaporation).
far apart and gobe done by cooling a gas to obtain a Composition
The reverse can matter is
liquid to obtain a the chemical composition,
liquid (condensation) or cooling a
Depending on
classified as follows:
solid (freezing). fromm
which a substance changes
The temperature at as the melting point.
Homogeneous
solid state to liquid state is known
of ice is 0°C.
For example, the melting point Mixture
The temperature at which a
substance changes from
the boiling Heterogencous
known
liquid state to gaseous state is
as

point of water is 100°C.

point. For example, the boiling
from
The temperature at which a substance changes Matter
as the point.
liquid state to solid state is known water isfreezing
0°C.
of
For example,the freezing point shown by
Elements
There is an interesting change of state
some solids.If you take solid iodine does in test tube and
a Pureresubstance
heat it gently, you will observe that it not melt, but
Compounds
vaporises directly giving violet fumes. Camphor and
naphthalene behave in a similar manner. This process
dioxIde
is called sublimation, and substances which undergo Let us take the example of oxygen, carbon
However, in oxygen, there
sublimation are called sublimates.The reverse of this andair. All three are gases.
process is deposition. For example, silver atoms in the are only oxygen atoms combined to form oxYgen
vapour state can be cooled and made to deposit as a molecules. In carbon dioxide, there arecarbon atoms and
solid film on apiece of glass. This is one way of making oxygen atoms chemically combined to form molecules
mirrors. dioxide. In air, there are oxygen molecules,
carbonmolecules,
Such type of change where the substances undergo Or
nitrogen and carbon dioxidemolecules.irst not
eporary change in thelr physical properties such as chemicallycombined, but just mixed together. The i s
 is an element, the second is a compound, the third cOMPOUNDS
is a mixture.

A molecule can be defined as the smallest particie

of an element or a compound that is capable
independent existence and shows all the properties af
thatsubstance.
Bamples:
(a) H, is the formula of a hydrogen molecule
(b) C
is the formula of a chlorine molecule.
of
(c) CO, is the formula of carbon dioxide.
A molecule may be homonuclear or heterouciear
Homonuclear moBecules are the molecules composed o
atoms of the same element.
Onthe basis of the number ofatoms in the molecule
homonuclear molecules are further classified as MIXTURES
monoatomic, diatomic, triatomic. and poByatomic
moBecules.
poperthes. Akst St he makerizis araund S are mIkeres.
Ex es
(a) Xenon. neon, argon, krypton monoatoc
moleculees
b) O, N H, Cl, F Br, - diatomic molecules
(c) O, - triatomic molecule
(d) P, As,, S. CPpolyatomic molecules
Heteronucdear molecules are molecules having atoms of
different elements.

Example:
Co, NH, H,SO, and HCI
Ordinary sugar syrup is a mixture. What are the
constituernt substances present in it?

(a) Is ice a mixture?

(b) Is ice candy a mixture? water) remaun sparae piases. t

ELEMENTS
An element is a substance that cannot be spiit irnto
simplersubstances by a chemical process. Gold, sive. Examples
iron, sulphur, and carbon are elements which are
solids at room temperature. Mercury and bromine are
iquids. Oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, nobie gases. etc.
are gaseous elements. More than a hundred elements
are known at present. s Salpbur poier
Helium, neon, argon, krypton, radon, and xenon are
called noble gases.
On the basis of their properties, elements are
classified as metals and non-metals.