Matter and Their Particles

Science : Particles in States of Matter

Particles in states of matter may be in the form of molecules or ions. Molecules are particles that are made up of atoms of one or more elements. They can be made up of single atoms, for example helium and argon, or many atoms like sulfur or carbon. Most molecules contain atoms of different elements.

What is a particle?

​A particle is an extremely tiny piece of matter, and scientists believe that everything in the universe is made up of particles. Particles can range in size, from larger subatomic particles, like electrons, or much smaller microscopic particles like atoms or molecules.

​Particles

A solid has a fixed shape and a fixed volume because the particles can move only a little. The particles vibrate back and forth but remain in their fixed positions. As a solid is heated, the particles vibrate faster and faster until they have enough energy to break away from their fixed positions.

​How fast do the particles in a solid move?

Point out the following about solids: The particles (atoms or molecules) are attracted to each other. The particles (atoms or molecules) vibrate but do not move past one another. The solid retains its shape.

​Particles in a solid.

Particles in a solid

Multiple Choice

How do the particles in a solid move?

• they vibrate

• they zoom past

• they slide past

• they fly past

• they bounce past

The particles of a liquid are close together, always moving, and can slide past one another. In a gas, the particles have very little attraction to each other. They are very far apart compared to the particles in a solid or liquid, and are constantly moving.

​

Particles of a liquid.

A liquid can flow and does not have a specific shape like a solid. Instead, a liquid conforms to the shape of the container in which it is held. Although this is similar to a gas, a liquid does not expand to fill up the container like a gas.

​How does a liquid fill its container

Liquid In a liquid, particles will flow or glide over one another, but stay toward the bottom of the container. The attractive forces between particles are strong enough to hold a specific volume but not strong enough to keep the molecules sliding over each other.

​About liquids particles

Liquid facts and questions

Multiple Choice

Do liquids have specific shapes like solids

• Yes
• No
• Only when frozen
• Sometimes

Multiple Choice

How does a liquid fill its container

• By staying in a fixed shape regardless of the container
• By evaporating and leaving the container empty
• By taking the shape of the container and spreading out to fill all available space within the container.
• By solidifying and taking the shape of the container

In a gas, the particles have very little attraction to each other. They are very far apart compared to the particles in a solid or liquid, and are constantly moving. The particles don't interact with one another but just hit and bounce off of each other when they collide.

​

​Particles in a gas

​Why are gases different from liquids and solids?

Solids have a definite shape and volume. Liquids have a definite volume, but take the shape of the container. Gases have no definite shape or volume.

It's a mixture of different gases. The air in Earth's atmosphere is made up of approximately 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Air also has small amounts of other gases, too, such as carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen. Individual atoms can combine with other atoms to form molecules. In particular, oxygen and nitrogen, which are the major components of air, occur in nature as diatomic (2 atom) molecules. Under normal conditions, matter exists as either a solid, a liquid, or a gas. Air is a gas.

​Is air a gas or liquid

A gas is a substance that is in a gaseous, or vaporous, state of matter. The term gas is also used in reference to the state itself when applied to matter that has the properties of a gaseous substance. Gas is one of four natural states of matter, along with liquid, solid and plasma. A gas has no fixed shape or volume.

​Explination on Gases

About Gases

Gas Properties Definitions

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​Why do solids require more energy compared to liquids and gases for the movement of particles?

1. There are three states of matter.

2. They are solids, liquids, and gases.

   1. In solids, the particles are closely packed and there is a strong force of attraction between the particles which holds them in a fixed position. The particles have very limited freedom.

   2. In liquids, the particles are close together but are not so close as in solids. The intermolecular force of attraction is less than that of solids. So, the particles in liquids have more freedom than those in solids.

   3. In gases, the particles are much farther apart from one another as compared to solids and liquids. The space between them is very large. The force of attraction between them is negligible. So, particles of gas are free to move in any direction.

Thus, a solid requires more energy for the movement of particles since the particles are closely packed and have a strong force of attraction between them.

Multiple Choice

Why do solids require more energy compared to liquids and gases for the movement of particles?

• Strong intermolecular forces and tightly packed particles
• Weak intermolecular forces and loosely packed particles
• Solids have less energy compared to liquids and gases
• Solids have fewer particles compared to liquids and gases

Multiple Choice

Does a gas have more energy than a solid? why?

• No, they have the same amount of energy
• It depends on the specific gas and solid being compared
• Solids have more energy than gases
• Yes

Multiple Choice

which has more energy: solid, liquid, or gas? why? and how?

• Solid because it has more particles
• Liquid because it has more density
• Gas
• Gas because it has more mass