Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry - States of Matter and the Gaseous State

Vocabulary flashcards covering the particulate model of solids, liquids, and gases, structural types, and the kinetic theory of ideal and real gases based on Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry.

Gases

A state of matter with no fixed shape or volume, whose particles are far apart, randomly arranged, and can move freely from place to place in all directions.

Liquids

A state of matter that takes the shape of the container it occupies, with a fixed volume, whose particles are close together, mostly arranged randomly, and have limited movement from place to place in all directions.

Solids

A state of matter with a fixed shape and volume, whose particles touch each other, are usually in a regular arrangement, and can only vibrate rather than change positions.

Kinetic theory

The theory that particles in gases and liquids are in constant movement, used to explain the effects of temperature and pressure on gas volume as well as rates of chemical reactions.

Kinetic theory of gases

The idea that molecules in gases are in constant movement, based on assumptions regarding rapid random motion, negligible molecular volume, absent intermolecular forces, elastic collisions, and temperature.

Kinetic energy

The energy associated with moving particles.

Elastic collisions

Collisions between particles in which no kinetic energy is lost.

Ideal gas

A theoretical gas whose volume varies in proportion to the temperature and in inverse proportion to the pressure, fully fitting the kinetic theory description.

Real gas

A gas that does not obey the ideal gas law, especially at low temperatures and high pressures.

Noble gases (in relation to ideal gas behaviour)

Gases with small atoms, such as helium and neon, that approach ideal gas behaviour because their intermolecular forces are so small.

Four types of structure in elements and compounds

Simple molecular or simple atomic (e.g. carbon dioxide, argon), giant ionic (e.g. sodium chloride), giant metallic (e.g. iron, copper), and giant molecular (e.g. silicon(IV) oxide).