An Introduction to Solids and their Properties

In this piece of work I will learn how particle models can show the difference between solids, liquids and gases and look at the properties and theories about the models. Then I will investigate further into what a physical change is and also what a geological change is.

The States of Matter

There are 4 states of matter. Matter is basically stuff that takes up space, without it the universe would be nothing, and wouldn’t exist. Matter is made up of many particles and can be found in many different states. These states or ‘phases’ can very depending on the temperature or pressure acting on the particles, and often change state. Many people believe there are 3, but scientifically speaking there are 4 different states of matter. The main 3 are solids, liquid and gases, and the 4th one- which is a rare state of matter- is plasma. We don’t get plasma that much in everyday life so that’s why its often neglected and its taught that there are 3 states of matter. Here are more detailed definitions of solids, liquids, and gases and about their particles:

Solids- Solids are basically solid substances. The particles in a solid are packed very tightly together, and are touching each other. The particles are vibrating slightly, even though it is a completely solid substance, as the solid is so tightly packed together the particles cannot move or spread out so they just vibrate and keep their position. The particles will stay moving all the time, no matter what kind of heat they have to face. Solids usually stay still on a surface and won’t take the shape of their container. Solids have a fixed shape which they will always keep unless changed into another state of matter. The reason the particles in a solid are so tightly packed together is because there are very strong forces of attraction attracting them towards each other. Solids also cannot be compressed.
Liquids- Liquids are usually quite runny substances, for example water. The particles in a liquid are quite close together and touching each other, but are not as tightly packed together as they are in a solid. Liquids are often colliding with each other as they move around, and have much free space to swap places with each other and move freely, although they still touch. Due to the movement of the liquid particles some particles escape from the substance. This gradual escaping is what causes liquids to evaporate. The forces of attraction holding the liquid particles together are of medium force. The properties of these liquid particles are what cause a liquid to have the ability to flow. Liquids will take on the shape of their container and do not have a fixed shape. When on a surface a liquid will spread out all over the surface. Liquids cannot be compressed, as they are already touching.
Gases- Gases are strange substances. They are often invisible, although sometimes coloured. They also often have a smell, but sometimes don’t. The particles in a gas are very spaced out, the particles will spread out and move to any place possible in their container. The process of the spreading out of gases is called diffusion, and is what gives us the ability to smell things- from the diffusion of the gases they emit. The particles are very far apart and often collide with each other. The particles in a gas do not have a fixed shape, and will diffuse all over their container. The forces of attraction holding the gas particles together are very weak, which is why they are so uncontrollable. Because gas particles are so spaced out and aren’t touching each other it is possible to compress a gas. When you compress something you squeeze the particles together to make it smaller. It is only possible to compress a gas as it is the only state of matter who’s particles aren’t touching.

Plasma- The Forgotten State of Matter

Plasma, you may have heard that word before but maybe not. Plasma is the 4th state of matter, although not many people are aware of that. Plasma can only be created at really high temperatures or really low pressures. It most commonly occurs in space, inside stars where there is a huge amount of heat. And sometimes on the earth, but it’s not a very familiar everyday thing. Plasma is created when the electrons in a gas are ripped off from their atoms. Plasma is often found on earth in neon lamps ...

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Plasma- The Forgotten State of Matter

Changing States

States of matter can change states from one to the other. States of Matter are usually changed when the heat or pressure of a substance is changed. The heat is either made higher or lower and the particles are either given more or less energy, and also the same with the pressure. State changes are physical changes, the main changes are:

Melting- This is where a solid is changed to a liquid when it is heated up to its melting point. When the solid is heated up its particles are given more energy, this energy causes them to spread out so it turns into a liquid.
Boiling or evaporation- This is where a liquid turns into a gas when it is heated to its boiling point. The liquid particles are given more energy so they spread out further to become a gas, this process is called evaporation.
Freezing- This is when a liquid turns into a solid when it is given a low temperature, and goes down to the freezing point of the substance. The cold gives the particles less energy, so they move closer together and form a solid.
Condensation- This is where a gas turns into a liquid when the gas particles hit a cold surface, again the gas particles are given less energy which causes them to move closer together and become a liquid.
Sublimation- This is where a gas turns straight into a solid, usually when a gas is frozen at an extremely low temperature. The particles are given so little energy that they completely pack together and become a solid.

Physical and Geological Changes

What is a physical or a geological change? Well a physical change isn’t like a chemical change, where a substance actually turns into a completely different one, but can’t be reversed. A physical change is where the physical properties of a substance change. These properties could be appearance, strength, electrical conductivity, hardness, it’s density and state or boiling or melting point. A geological change is a change in the rocks which make up the earth, as geology is the study of this. Some physical changes include:

The change of the state of a substance- This is when a substance is melted, boiled, frozen, condensed or sublimed to change its physical state this is a physical change.
Solutions being made- This is where substances are dissolved into each other to make a solution, this is when a solute is dissolved into a solvent to make a solution. This solution is a physical change, partly because the solute and solvent can both be recovered.
Contraction and Expansion- This is where a substance either expands or contracts. Basically this is where they either get bigger (expansion) or they get smaller (contraction). This is often caused by a change of heat or pressure and is a physical change.

Some examples of geological changes are:

The change in the types of rock- This is part of the rock cycle. When rocks which are igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic are changed into another type of rock.
Weathering of rocks- This is where the rocks are weathered, so seemingly fade away or are broken apart. This is a geological change.

An Introduction to Solids and their Properties

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