Topic One (1.1): States of Matter

Everything is a solid, a liquid or a gas and you’ll need to know the main properties of each of these states of matter.  Most importantly, you need to be able to describe how the particles of the substance are behaving.  Are they moving?  Are they close together or far apart?  Also, can you explain how this behaviour produces some of the properties a substance might have e.g. that a gas exerts a pressure on the container that it is in.

You’ll need to remember the correct names for the changes of state (evaporation, freezing etc) as well as the names for other processes such as dissolving and diffusing.

Read

For this topic you will need to read pages 2-11 in your coursebook. Please note carefully the difference between boiling and evaporation on page 7. As you work through these pages, you should be making notes and doing the questions on every page. Answers to these questions will be found on page 268 of the coursebook.

Experiment

At this point you should carry out the Heating Curves Download Heating Curves experiment. This is an experiment for you to complete at home. Please review the safety document Download safety document and the Experiments at Home Guidance before carrying it out.

Once you have completed the experiment, documented your findings and considered the relevant questions provided, you can then refer to the Answers & Notes document Download Answers & Notes document to compare with your own thoughts.

Links

WATCH - Changing States of Matter (Twig) [Not available with sample]

WATCH – States of Matter and Changing State (YouTube)

EXPLORE – The Three States of Matter (SaveMyExams) Links to an external site.

Review

Now you have completed your work on states of matter it is important that you check your understanding. On pages 12-13 of your coursebook you will find some questions - please try all of these. Answers are found on page 268-269.