Matter can take different shape based on its intermolecular force or the container it’s in. Solid, liquid, gas and plasma are interconnected with each other through phase changes.

Solid

• Solid matter has definite volume and definite shape

• Because of intermolecular forces, atoms are tightly packed together with a narrow space in between

• Has rigidity because of tightly packed atoms (resistance to external force; hard to compress)

Liquid

• Liquid are often classified as fluid for its ability to flow and take shape of its container

• Liquid has no definite shape but has definite volume

• Intermolecular force on liquids is weaker than the solids allowing them to slide past each other when compressed

Gas

• Gases are also a fluid, it can flow from one place to another

• Gas does not have a definite shape and volume because they continuously move apart from each other.

• Gas takes the shape of the container

• Intermolecular force are very weak so they create a huge space between each particles. This makes them highly compressible and non rigid.

Plasma

• Plasma do not have definite shape and volume like gas.

• They move apart from each other but unlike gas, plasma can sometimes pass through the container

Phase Change

Phase change is the transition of matter from one state to another. The addition or removal of heat/energy to a matter that rearrange the atoms.

Heat addition

Melting - solid to liquid

Vaporization - liquid to gas

Ionization - gas to plasma

Sublimation - solid to gas

Heat removal

Freezing - liquid to solid

Condensation - gas to liquid

Recombination - plasma to gas

Deposition - gas to solid

Endothermic Process

As the energy/heat increases, the particles gain more kinetic allowing them to move freely and rapidly. The energy is absorbed from its surrounding.

Melting (Solid-to-Liquid)

As the particles gain heat, they overcome the intermolecular force holding them together

Sublimation (Solid-to-Gas)

Same to melting, it just absorb heat and becomes gas directly without the liquid phase. Ex. Dry ice

Vaporization (Liquid-to-Gas)

Particles gain heat and builds kinetic energy allowing them to escape liquid state and become gasses

Ionization (Gas-to-Plasma)

When molecules gain enough energy they can ionize, meaning they lose electrons forming cation and anion.

Exothermic Process

The heat leaves the matter, decreasing the kinetic energy and the movement of it. The energy is released to its surrounding.

Recombination (Plasma-to-Gas)

When positive ions and negative ions combine forming stable molecules. This often releases energy

Condensation (Gas-to-Liquid)

Molecules lose kinetic energy gradually and starts attracting each other

Deposition (Gas-to-Solid)

Molecules forms a strong attraction without going through liquid phase

Freezing (Liquid-to-Solid)

As the intermolecular force between molecules gets stronger and stronger, the molecules gets more rigid and tight.