Properties of States of Matter and Diffusion

Properties of States of Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Solids

• Particle Arrangement: Particles are packed in an orderly pattern.

• Amount of Kinetic Energy: Small amount of kinetic energy.

• Motion of Particles: Particles vibrate in fixed positions.

• Strength of Interparticle Forces: Very strong.

• Shape: Fixed, definite shape.

• Volume: Definite, fixed volume.

• Ability to Flow: Cannot flow (not fluid).

• Compressibility: Very difficult to compress (or cannot be compressed).

Liquids

• Particle Arrangement: Particles are closer than in a gas, but further away than a solid; distributed in clusters.

• Amount of Kinetic Energy: Intermediate, more than a solid but less than a gas.

• Motion of Particles: Clusters of particles flow past each other with free, random motion.

• Strength of Interparticle Forces: Intermediate, weaker than a solid but stronger than in a gas.

• Shape: Variable, takes the shape of the container.

• Volume: Definite, fixed volume.

• Ability to Flow: Can flow (fluid).

• Compressibility: Can be compressed to a small extent.

Gases

• Particle Arrangement: Particles are very far apart and randomly distributed.

• Amount of Kinetic Energy: Large amount of kinetic energy.

• Motion of Particles: Free, random motion.

• Strength of Interparticle Forces: Very weak or weak.

• Shape: Variable, takes the shape of the container.

• Volume: Variable, fills the container.

• Ability to Flow: Can flow (fluid).

• Compressibility: Easily compressed.

Diffusion

• Definition: Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until the particles are evenly distributed.

• Occurrence: This phenomenon occurs in liquids and gases.

Density Calculations

Density is calculated as Mass divided by Volume $\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}$.

• Example 1: Particles with individual mass of $2$g in a volume of $2 ext{ cm}^3$

  • Number of particles: $2$

  • Mass of each particle: $2 \text{ g}$

  • Total mass: $2 \times 2 = 4 \text{ g}$

  • Volume: $2 \text{ cm}^3$

  • Density: $\frac{4 \text{ g}}{2 \text{ cm}^3} = 2 \text{ g/cm}^3$

• Example 2: Particles with individual mass of $2$g in a volume of $10 \text{ cm}^3$

  • Number of particles: $20$

  • Mass of each particle: $2 \text{ g}$

  • Total mass: $20 \times 2 = 40 \text{ g}$

  • Volume: $10 \text{ cm}^3$

  • Density: $\frac{40 \text{ g}}{10 \text{ cm}^3} = 4 \text{ g/cm}^3$

• Example 3: Particles with individual mass of $1$g in a volume of $2 \text{ cm}^3$

  • Number of particles: $18$

  • Mass of each particle: $1 \text{ g}$

  • Total mass: $18 \times 1 = 18 \text{ g}$

  • Volume: $2 \text{ cm}^3$

  • Density: $\frac{18 \text{ g}}{2 \text{ cm}^3} = 9 \text{ g/cm}^3$