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States of Matter and Their Properties

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The states of matter—solid, liquid, gas, and plasma—are defined by particle arrangement and energy content. Solids have a fixed shape and volume, while liquids adapt to their container's shape but maintain volume. Gases have neither fixed shape nor volume, expanding to fill space. Plasma, the fourth state, is ionized and conducts electricity. Transitions between states involve energy changes, crucial for understanding matter's behavior in various applications.

Understanding States of Matter

Matter exists in various physical forms known as states of matter, each with unique characteristics based on particle arrangement, intermolecular forces, and energy content. The three primary states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. In a solid, particles are closely packed in a fixed, orderly arrangement, and can only vibrate in place, resulting in a definite shape and volume. Liquids have particles that are less tightly bound, allowing them to slide past one another, which gives liquids a fixed volume but not a fixed shape—they conform to the shape of their container. Gases consist of particles that are widely spaced and move rapidly in all directions, leading to neither a definite shape nor a fixed volume, as they expand to fill their container.
Glass beaker with ice cubes, liquid water and steam rising on light blue to white gradient background.

Transitioning Between States of Matter

Matter transitions between states through the processes of melting, freezing, vaporization, condensation, sublimation, and deposition, depending on the addition or removal of thermal energy. When a solid absorbs enough heat, it reaches its melting point and becomes a liquid. If the liquid is heated further, it reaches its boiling point and changes into a gas. Conversely, when a gas loses heat, it condenses into a liquid, and if cooled further, the liquid solidifies into a solid. Sublimation is the direct transition from a solid to a gas, bypassing the liquid state, while deposition is the reverse process. These phase changes occur at characteristic temperatures for each substance and involve latent heat, which is energy absorbed or released at constant temperature during the transition.

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00

Solid State Particle Arrangement

Particles closely packed in fixed, orderly arrangement; only vibrate in place.

01

Liquid State Particle Movement

Particles less tightly bound, can slide past one another; fixed volume, shape conforms to container.

02

Gas State Particle Behavior

Particles widely spaced, move rapidly in all directions; no definite shape/volume, expand to fill container.

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