Solids Liquids and gases

Solids, liquids and gases

Learning objectives:
(L3) Classify materials as solids, liquids or gases
(L4) Describe some of the properties of solids,
liquids and gases
(L5) Explain the arrangement of particles in
solids, liquids and gases
(L6) Explain diffusion in terms of the movement
of particles
(L7) Interpret the link between the speed of
diffusion and the mass of molecules
 Solids, liquids and gases
(L3) Classify materials as solids,
liquids or gases
 Solids, liquids and gases

(L4) Describe some of the

properties of solids, liquids and
gases

Working in pairs you will make and record

observations.
Observation sheet Name __________
You are given a solid, liquid and a gas. You need to
describe your observations in the boxes below.
Observations Solid Liquid Gas

A Is the shape
fixed or can it
change?
B Does it flow?

C Is it easy to
squash?

D Can you change

its volume?

E Does it feel
heavy or light?
 Squashing
You are going to try to squash some materials.
You will test sand, water and air.

air water sand

Which do you think can be squashed
the most – air, water or sand? Write
down your prediction.

air water sand

Why do you think this? Write down the
reasons for your choice.

air water sand

 Press down the plunger of each
syringe. Do not try to pull the plunger
out!

air water sand

Make a table for your results. Write in it
how far down the plunger went for
sand, air and water.

air water sand

Did the results match your prediction?
Which could you squash the most – the
solid, the liquid or the gas?

air water sand

What are the properties of solids?
Solids:
 have a high density, as the particles are packed very
closely together
 cannot be compressed because there is very little empty
space between particles
 have a fixed shape
because the particles
are held tightly together
 cannot diffuse
because the particles
are not able to move.
What are the properties of liquids?
Liquids:
 have a fairly high density because the particles are close
together
 cannot be compressed because there is very little empty
space between particles
 take up the shape of
its container because
the particles can move
 can diffuse because
the particles are able to
change places.
What are the properties of gases?
Gases:
 have a low density because the particles are spaced far
apart
 can be compressed because there is space between
particles
 have no fixed shape
because the particles
move about rapidly in
all directions
 can diffuse because
the particles are able to
move in all directions.
Solids, liquids and gases: which
one?
 Solids, liquids and gases

(L5) Explain the arrangement of

particles in solids,liquids and
gases

Group work to complete card matching

activity
 Solids, liquids and gases

(L6) Explain diffusion in terms of

the movement of particles
(L7) Interpret the link between
the speed of diffusion and the
mass of molecules
 Particles
The differences between solids, liquids and gases can be
explained by looking at the particles.
 All substances are made up
of particles.
 The particles are attracted to
each other. Some particles
are attracted strongly to each
other, and others weakly.
 The particles move around. They are
described as having kinetic energy.
 The kinetic energy of the particles
increases with temperature.
How do smells spread out?
 Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of particles
from a High concentration (level) to a low
concentration.
 EXPERIMENT

AIM: To show that liquids diffuse in liquids.

 INSTRUCTIONS
1. Draw out the following table.
Time (minutes) Spread of dye
(Low, Medium or High)

5
 INSTRUCTIONS
2. Fill up a test-tube with 5mls of water
and place it in a test-tube holder.
3. Put some dye or ink into a dropper.
Wipe the dropper with a paper towel.

chemistryland.com plantedtank.net
 INSTRUCTIONS
4. Slide the dropper to the bottom of
the test-tube and gently add 10
drops of the dye solution.
5. Carefully take out the dropper and
start the stop-watch.

plantedtank.net
 INSTRUCTIONS
5. Write down how far the dye has
spread at the start of the experiment
and then after 1, 3 and 5 minutes.

6. Draw a picture of how the test-tube

looks like at these times.

11 2
WHAT DID YOU FIND
OUT?
EXPLANATION

en.labs.wikimedia.org
• 1 Jenna put a purple crystal into a beaker of water at 10 o’clock. She came
back to look at the beaker at 12 o’clock, and again at 4 o’clock.
• Colour in the beakers to show how far the purple colour would have spread at
each time. The first one has been done for you.

• 10 o’clock 12 o’clock 4 o’clock

2 Fill in the gaps in these sentences, using words from the box. You
may need to use some words more than once.
The colour in Jenna’s beaker spread out by
_______________________ . The water
_______________________ are moving around all the
time. They bump into  _______________________ from
the purple crystal, and ______________________them
around. The purple gradually __________________ out
through the ___________________ .
 
diffusion move particles spreads water
3 Mr Collins has got some new aftershave. Danny
can smell it as soon as Mr Collins comes into the
lab. Ramesh does not smell it until two minutes
later.
 a Who is sitting nearest to the lab door?
_____________________________________
 
b Explain your answer
_____________________________________

________________________________________
____________________________________
______________________________________
4 Diffusion happens faster in gases than in liquids.
Why does this happen? Tick the correct
explanation.
 The particles in gases are smaller than
the particles in liquids.
 The particles in gases are bigger than the
particles in liquids.
 The particles in gases are moving faster
than the particles in liquids.
 The particles in gases are moving more
slowly than the particles in liquids.
Diffusion and temperature
 Diffusion in solids
The particles in liquids and gases diffuse easily because
they are free to move around. However, it is possible for
solids to diffuse as well.

Scientists have found that if they put two metals

next to each other and leave them for a long
time, eventually a few particles of one metal
will diffuse into the other.

This is because the particles in a solid vibrate,

and some of them have enough energy to
move around a little bit as well. Eventually, a
few particles move around enough to diffuse
into the other metal.
 Diffusion in liquids and gases
Which will diffuse faster, a gas or a liquid?

The particles of a gas will diffuse faster. Why?

The gas particles are moving around faster than the
particles in a liquid because they have more energy. This
means that the gas particles will spread out more quickly.
Changes of state