Science

State of Matter

The physical form matter takes — solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.

Solid

 A state of matter with a definite shape and volume; particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place.

Liquid

A state of matter with a definite volume but no definite shape; particles slide past one another.

Gas

A state of matter with no definite shape or volume; particles move freely and spread far apart.

Plasma

A high-energy state of matter where gas particles become ionized (charged) and move extremely fast.

Ionized

When atoms lose or gain electrons and become charged particles called ions.

Particle Energy

The amount of energy particles have that determines how fast they move.

Melting

The change from a solid to a liquid when heat is added.

Freezing

The change from a liquid to a solid when heat is removed.

Evaporation

The process where a liquid slowly changes into a gas at its surface.

Boiling

The process where a liquid rapidly changes into a gas throughout the entire liquid.

Condensation

The process where a gas cools and changes into a liquid.

Sublimation

The change from a solid directly to a gas without becoming a liquid first.

Deposition

The change from a gas directly to a solid without becoming a liquid first.

Temperature

A measure of how fast the particles in a substance are moving.

Thermal Energy

The total energy of all the particles in a substance.

Heat

The transfer of thermal energy from something warmer to something cooler.

Change of State

When matter changes from one state (solid, liquid, gas, plasma) to another due to adding or removing heat.