Changes in Matter

Changes in Matter

What is Matter?

Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight.

•Matter has three forms.

•Matter can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

•Matter can be described by its properties.

•Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.

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Identifying a Substance

• For example, a colorless substance that was found to boil at 100˚C and melt at 0˚C would likely be water.

• A colorless substance that boiled at 78˚C and melted at –117˚C would definitely not be water. It would likely be ethanol.

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Open Ended

Three states of matter are

Solids

A solid is a form of matter that has a definite shape and volume. The shape of a solid doesn’t depend on the shape of its container. A solid is a form of matter that has a definite shape and volume. The shape of a solid doesn’t depend on the shape of its container. The particles in a solid are packed tightly together, often in an orderly arrangement.

Liquids

The particles in a liquid are in close contact with one another, but the arrangement of particles in a liquid is not rigid or orderly. The particles in a liquid are in close contact with one another, but the arrangement of particles in a liquid is not rigid or orderly. Because the particles in a liquid are free to flow, a liquid takes the shape of the container in which it is placed. The particles in a liquid are in close contact with one another, but the arrangement of particles in a liquid is not rigid or orderly. However, the volume of the liquid doesn’t change as its shape changes.

Gases

Like a liquid, a gas takes the shape of its container.But, unlike a liquid, a gas can expand to fill any volume. A gas is a form of matter that takes both the shape and volume of its container. The particles in a gas are usually much farther apart than the particles in a liquid. The particles in a gas are usually much farther apart than the particles in a liquid.Because of the space between particles, gases are easily

compressed into a smaller volume.

Checkpoint

• A substance is in a state in which it takes the shape of its container. What state or states could it be in?

• A substance is in a state in which it takes the shape of its container. What state or states could it be in?

  
  

• The substance could be either a liquid or a gas, as each takes the shape of its container.

Physical Changes 1

How can physical changes be classified?

Physical Changes 2

The melting point of gallium metal is 30˚C. The figure at left shows how the heat from a person’s hand can melt a sample of gallium.