States of Matter - Vocabulary

Flashcards covering vocabulary terms, definitions, and core concepts related to the different states of matter. These flashcards are designed to aid in understanding the properties and behaviors of gases, liquids, solids, plasma, and Bose-Einstein condensates.

Thermal energy

The sum of the kinetic and potential energy of particles in an object.

Kinetic Energy (KE)

Energy in motion.

Potential Energy (PE)

Stored energy.

Elastic Collision

When no kinetic energy is lost overall in the collision.

Temperature

Measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in an object.

Diffusion

Spontaneous mixing of particles caused by random motion.

Effusion

Process where gas particles pass through tiny openings.

Surface Tension

Force that pulls adjacent parts of a liquid’s surface together, minimizing the surface area.

Kinetic-Molecular Theory

Helps us to understand states of matter and thus their behaviors and properties; all matter is made of small particles that are in constant random motion.

Gases

Indefinite volume and shape; particles have high KE and collide with each other; no attractive or repulsive forces; particles can move freely.

Liquids

Definite volume but indefinite shape; particles have less KE than gases but more than solids; stronger IMF hold the particles together more than in gases; particles can flow or slide past each other but have less mobility than gases.

Solids

Definite volume and definite shape; particles have lowest KE, thus move the least; strongest IMF holding the particles together in a rigid structure; particle movement is limited due to rigidity, thus vibrate in place.

Intermolecular Forces (IMF)

Weaker attractions between molecules responsible for physical properties like melting and boiling points.

Chemical Bond

Strong forces that hold atoms together within a molecule, determining the structure and properties of the molecule.

Ideal Gas

A hypothetical gas that perfectly follows all the kinetic-molecular theory; no attractive forces between particles.

Real Gas

A gas that doesn’t behave entirely according to the kinetic-molecular theory and exhibits attractive forces.

Expansion (of gases)

Gases have no definite volume or shape and fill the container they are in.

Fluidity

The ability of a substance to flow, characteristic of both liquids and gases due to the movement of their particles.

Compressibility

The ability to greatly decrease the volume of a gas by increasing pressure and pushing the particles together.

Surface Tension

Force that pulls adjacent parts of a liquid’s surface together, minimizing surface area.

Capillary Action

Attraction of the surface of a liquid to the surface of a solid, against the pull of gravity.

Crystalline Solid

Made of crystals; particles arranged in an orderly geometric pattern (lattice).

Amorphous Solid

Particles are arranged more randomly and may retain some liquid properties; sometimes classified as a “supercooled liquid”.

Plasma

Matter composed of positive ions and electrons with extremely high kinetic energy; most common form of matter in the universe.

Bose-Einstein Condensate

Atoms super-cooled to near absolute zero, forming a 'super atom' where all particles are in the same energetic state.