S1 New Curriculum chemistry
Theme: Particle Nature of Matter
S1 New Curriculum Chemistry Chapter 3 – States and change of states of matter
Matter
Matter is anything that occupies space and has weight. Matter is made up of particles that
are too small. These tiny particles cannot be seen by the naked eye. The tiny particles are
called molecules. The molecules consist of more tiny particles called atoms.
Atoms are made of small particles called protons, electrons and neutrons
Examples are stone, clouds, water etc.
There are majorly four states of matter
(i) Solids e.g. chairs, tables, stone wall etc. Here the molecules are closely packed
together and are vibrating within fixed positions, but are not free to move due to
the strong forces of attraction between the molecules. Solid state has a definite
shape and volume.
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(ii) Liquids e.g. water, paraffin, cooking oil. In liquids, molecules are further apart
compared to solids. The particles are free to move and are in constant random
motion but within the surface of the liquid. The forces of attraction between the
particles are weaker compared to solid state. Liquids take up the shape of the
container in which they are put. So liquids do not have a definite shape but have
definite volume.
(iii) Gas e.g. air. The particles are much further apart compared to liquids and solids.
These particles can move independently and at a high speed compared to solids
and liquids. The intermolecular forces of attraction are almost negligible. Gases
have no particular shape and volume.
(iv) Plasma: it is made of gaseous positive ions and electrons only at very high
temperatures. That is, plasma is an ionized gas, a good conductor of electricity
with indefinite shape and indefinite volume.
Summary table
Properties Solid Liquid Gas Plasma
Distance of Least Closer Larg Largest
separation
Intermolecular Strongest Strong Wea weakest
forces
Potential energy Highest Low Lower Lowest
Kinetic energy Lowest High Higher Highest
Effect of heat on matter
(a) Increases the speed of movement of particle or kinetic energy of particles
(b) Lead to change from solid to liquid to gas and finally to plasma.
When a solid is heated, the particles gain kinetic energy and turns into a liquid by a process
called melting or into a gas by the process called sublimation.
Heating a liquid turns it into a gas by the process called evaporation.
Cooling a gas turns into a solid by the process of sublimation or into a liquid by
condensation and a liquid turns into a solid by freezing or solidification.
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Note that melting/solidification and boiling/condensing occur at constant temperatures.
The characteristic heating and cooling curves are shown below;
The cooling effect of evaporation
Evaporation causes cooling because it removes heat from a surface or substancebecause
Energy Absorption: When a liquid evaporates, its molecules gain energy from their
surroundings to escape into the air as vapor.
Loss of High-Energy Molecules: The fastest-moving (hottest) molecules leave first,
reducing the average energy of the remaining liquid.
Lower Temperature: With fewer high-energy molecules, the temperature of the
liquid and the surface it touches drops.
Real-Life Examples:
Sweating: Sweat evaporates from the skin, cooling the body.
Evaporation of alcohol from skin: When alcohol/ethanol is poured on the skin it
feels cold.
Wet Clothes Drying: As water evaporates, the fabric feels cooler.
Cooling Effect Near Water Bodies: Water evaporation from lakes or rivers helps
lower surrounding temperatures.
Evidences for the motion of particles in matter
1. Diffusion of gases.
This is the movement of particles from areas of high concentrating to a region of low
concentration. For instance, when a person wearing a perfume enters a room, the
whole room is filed by the scent.
2. Brownian motion
This is the random movement of smoke particles in a glass cell as seen through a
microscope.
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Explanation
Air particles are in random movement; these collide with smoke particles and cause
them to move randomly.
When temperature is increased, the kinetic energy of the air particles increase which
increases the speed of smoke particles.
The Brownian motion can be observed by the dust particles through light rays i
3. Formation of white fumes of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) from ammonia (NH3) and
hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) from hydrochloric acid (HCl)
When a cotton wool soaked in ammonia and another soaked in concentrated
hydrochloric acid are placed in opposite end of a long glass tube, a white ring form in
a tube near the side that contains cotton wool soaked in concentrated hydrochloric
acid.
Conclusion
(i) Ammonia and hydrochloride acid contains particle that move to meet each other
and react to form white fumes of ammonium chloride
(ii) Ammonia and hydrochloric acid are volatile i.e. can easily turn into vapour.
(iii) The white ring forms near the cotton wool soaked in HCl because ammonia
molecules are lighter and therefore diffuse/move faster. Or ammonia molecule
move a bigger distance than hydrogen chloride molecules in the same time.
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4. Presence and movement of particles in liquids is demonstrated by diffusion of purple
permanganate color in water
Revision question
1. What is matter
2. List states of matter
3. How can we show that matter is made of particles?
4. Arranges the states of matter starting from the state with least energy.
5. In terms of kinetic theory, explain condensation and melting.
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Thanks
Dr. Bbosa Science
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