Phase Changes

Front

What is a phase change?

Back

A phase change is a transition of matter from one state to another, such as solid to liquid or liquid to gas.

Front

What are the main states of matter?

Back

The main states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

Front

What happens to particles during melting?

Back

During melting, particles gain energy, move faster, and begin to break free from their fixed positions.

Front

What is condensation?

Back

Condensation is the phase change from gas to liquid, occurring when gas particles lose energy and come closer together.

Front

What is evaporation?

Back

Evaporation is the phase change from liquid to gas, occurring at the surface of a liquid as particles gain enough energy to escape.

Front

What is sublimation?

Back

Sublimation is the phase change from solid directly to gas without passing through the liquid phase.

Front

What is the boiling point?

Back

The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the external pressure, causing it to turn into gas.

Front

What is the freezing point?

Back

The freezing point is the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid.

Front

What is the relationship between temperature and particle movement?

Back

As temperature increases, particles move faster and tend to spread farther apart; as temperature decreases, particles move slower and come closer together.

Front

What is a characteristic of gases?

Back

Gases have no definite shape and no definite volume, filling the container they are in.