Think of an ice cube. It’s extremely cold, right? That’s because it’s a solid, but not all solids are cold, however. Usually, when a liquid turns into a solid it’s because it froze. Then, it turns into a solid! A solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter. It is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to change shape or volume. Unlike a liquid(which we will talk about later) a solid object does not flow to take on the shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire volume available to it like a gas does. In a solid, the molecules have little to no movement.
Next, we move on to liquids. We talked about an ice cube, but what happens when it melts? Then, it becomes a liquid. A liquid can be any type of drink, Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew, or any other drink you can imagine! There is also a “bad” type of liquid. Agents (a scientific term for liquid) in a science lab typically are dangerous. If you drank those, you would probably need to go to the hospital! A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of the four fundamental states of matter, and is the only state with a definite volume but no fixed shape. In a liquid, molecules have a slow movement.
Now, let’s talk about gases. Oxygen, the air we breath, is a gas. So is Helium, that stuff that fills balloons and makes our voices sound funny, is another example of a gas. A lot of gases, like liquids, can be extremely dangerous. Gases are one of the four fundamental states of matter. A pure gas may be made up of individual atoms (ex. a noble gas like neon), elemental molecules made up from one type of atom (ex. oxygen), or compound molecules made from a variety of atoms (ex. Carbon dioxide). A gas mixture would contain a variety of pure gases much like air. In a gas, molecules have a fast movement.
Have you ever seen a bolt of lightning? Have you heard of the northern lights? Well, those are just two examples of what is called plasma. Plasma is an ionized (becoming ions) gas that consists of positive ions and free electrons in proportions, resulting in more or less no overall charge, typically at low pressures (as in the upper atmosphere and in fluorescent lamps) or at very high temperatures (as in stars and nuclear fusion reactors). Plasma can be created by heating up a gas or subjecting it to a strong electromagnetic field applied with a laser or microwave generator. Do you know those purple balls that make your hair stand up or shock you when you touch it? That’s made of plasma. Do you know what else is made up of plasma? Ninety-nine percent of matter in the known universe! Plasma isn’t like solids, liquids, or gases (the other three states of matter). It is so hot, that it could kill a human! Plasma is also known as the fourth state of matter. Plasma’s molecules move extremely fast.
Lastly, there is a way to get from one state of matter to another. That’s what we call phase changes. Let’s start with a solid. Solids can either become liquids or become gases. Solids become liquids through a process called melting. The typical melting point is 32 degrees fahrenheit. Solids become gases through a process called sublimation. Next, we move on to liquids. Liquids can either become solids or gases. A liquid to a solid is called the freezing point. The typical freezing point is also 32 degrees fahrenheit. A liquid to a gas is called the boiling point. The typical boiling point is 99.97 degrees fahrenheit. Now, we move on to gases. Gases can become either a liquid, a solid, or plasma. Gases become liquids through condensation. The condensing point is typically the same as the boiling point, 99.97 degrees fahrenheit. Gases become solids by a process called deposition. Like sublimation, there is no specific temperature for it to occur. Lastly, gases become plasma through a process called ionization. Ionization does not have a specific temperature, but it is between 10,000 and 20,000 degrees fahrenheit. Yeah, pretty hot right? To conclude, plasma is too hot to become a solid or liquid, so it can only become a gas through a process called recombination. Recombination is when plasma’s molecules connect and don’t move around so fast.
Vocabulary
Solid: One of the four fundamental states of matter. It is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to change shape or volume. Unlike a liquid(which we will talk about later) a solid object does not flow to take on the shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire volume available to it like a gas does.
Four Fundamental States of Matter: Four states of matter are observable in everyday life; solid, liquid, gas and plasma.
Molecules: a group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
Liquid: a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of the four fundamental states of matter, and is the only state with a definite volume but no fixed shape
Agent: A scientific term used in a lab for liquid
Incompressible: not able to be compressed.
Gas: one of the four fundamental states of matter. A pure gas may be made up of individual atoms (ex. a noble gas like neon), elemental molecules made up from one type of atom (ex. oxygen), or compound molecules made from a variety of atoms (ex. Carbon dioxide).
Noble Gases: any of the gaseous elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, occupying Group 0 (18) of the periodic table. They were long believed to be totally unreactive but compounds of xenon, krypton, and radon are now known.
Plasma: Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter, the others being solid, liquid, and gas. A plasma has properties unlike those of he other states. A plasma can be created by heating a gas or subjecting it to a strong electromagnetic field applied with a laser or microwave generator.
Ionized: convert (an atom, molecule, or substance) into an ion or ions, typically by removing one or more electrons, or to become converted into an ion or ions; undergo ionization.
Ion: an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons
Free Electron: an electron that is not bonded to an atom or molecule and so is free to move under external electric or magnetic fields
Electromagnetic: of or relating to the interrelation of electric currents or fields and magnetic fields.
Phase Changes: A phase change is a change in the state of matter of a sample. A phase change is an example of a physical change. Examples: An example of a phase change is water changing from a liquid to vapor.
Melting Point: the temperature at which a given solid will melt.
Sublimation: Changing directly into a vapor when heated, typically forming a solid deposit against on cooling
Freezing Point: the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled.
Boiling Point: the temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor.
Condensation: 1. water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it. 2.the conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid.
Ionization: the process by which an atom or a molecule acquires a negative or positive charge by gaining or losing electrons to form ions, often in conjunction with other chemical changes. Ionization can result from the loss of an electron after collisions with subatomic particles, collisions with other atoms, molecules and ions, or through the interaction with light.
Recombination: the process of recombining things.
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