States of Matter and Separation Techniques

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the states of matter, interconversion of states, types of chemical and physical changes, and various separation techniques including distillation, chromatography, and water purification.

Solid (Particle Arrangement and Movement)

Particles are tightly packed together in a regular arrangement and vibrate in fixed positions.

Liquid (Particle Arrangement and Movement)

Particles are close together but able to move past each other; they vibrate and move around each other.

Gas (Particle Arrangement and Movement)

Particles are well separated with no regular arrangement; they vibrate and move freely at high speeds.

Relative Energies of States

Particles in a solid have the least amount of energy, and particles in a gas have the most energy.

Interconversion of State

When matter changes from one state to another due to changes in temperature or pressure.

Melting

The state change from solid to liquid.

Freezing

The state change from liquid to solid.

Evaporation

The state change from liquid to gas.

Condensation

The state change from gas to liquid.

Forces in Solids

Strong forces of attraction between particles which keeps them in their fixed positions.

Forces in Liquids

Weaker attractive forces than those found in solids.

Forces in Gases

Weakest intermolecular forces, resulting in random movement of particles.

Physical Change

Changes involving the forces between particles where the particles and chemical properties remain the same; they are relatively easy to reverse as no new product is formed.

Chemical Change

A change that affects the chemical properties of the substance.

Melting Process (Particle Theory)

Particles absorb thermal energy and convert it to kinetic energy, vibrating more until the solid expands and the structure breaks into a liquid.

Mixture

Contains 2 or more elements or compounds that are not chemically combined together, leaving the chemical properties of each substance unchanged.

Pure Substance Melting Point

Characterized by a sharp exact melting point.

Mixture Melting Point

Melts over a range of temperatures since it consists of several elements or compounds.

Simple Distillation

Used to separate a solvent from a solution, such as producing water from salt solution or separating ethanol from water.

Fractional Distillation

Used to separate all elements/compounds in a mixture by using a fractionating column and their different boiling points.

Filtration

A process used to separate an insoluble substance from a solution using filter paper and a funnel.

Crystallisation

Used to separate a soluble solid from a solution if the solid decomposes when heated; involves gentle heating until crystals form, followed by cooling and drying.

Paper Chromatography

A separation method where a mobile phase (solvent) moves through a stationary phase (paper), separating compounds based on their interactions with each phase and their solubilities.

Mobile Phase

The solvent that moves through the stationary phase in chromatography.

Stationary Phase

The paper through which the solvent moves during chromatography.

Rf Value

The ratio between the distance travelled by the dissolved substance (the solute) and the distance travelled by the solvent.

Chromatogram Spots

A pure substance produces one spot, whereas an impure substance produces more than one spot (one for each chemical).

Pencil Baseline

The line drawn at the bottom of chromatography paper; pencil is used because it is insoluble and will not affect the experiment.

Sedimentation

A water treatment step where large insoluble particles are allowed to sink to the bottom by leaving the water still.

Chlorination

A process that kills bacteria and microorganisms in water that are too small to be removed by filtration.

Potable Water

Water that has been treated (via sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination) to be safe for drinking.

Deionised Water

Water used in experimental analysis to prevent ions from interacting with substances, which avoids false positive results.