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States of Matter - What is Matter?
To
understand the elements and States of Matter we need to ask a
basic question. What is Matter? Matter is everything that takes
up space and has weight – matter has volume and mass. Matter is
made up of tiny building blocks called
Atoms. Atoms are very
small – at least a hundred times smaller than the width of a
human hair. The exact size of the atom changes, depending on the
element. The purest type of atom is called an element.
States of Matter - What are the 3 states of matter? What are the
4 states of matter?
Elements can
be classified based on physical states, often referred to as the
aggregate state of an element or the states of matter. At room
temperature and pressure the Physical States, or states of
matter, are solids, gases or liquids and these are referred to
as the 3 states of matter. There are, in fact, 4 states of
matter - the fourth state of matter is plasma.
States of Matter
States of Matter - Plasma
Liquid,
solid and gas are the most common states of matter on Earth.
However, much of the matter of universe is in the form of
hot plasma. Therefore reference is sometimes made to the 4
states of matter. Plasma is a state of matter, similar to gas,
in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized.
Ionization is the formation of, or separation into, ions by
heat, electrical discharge, radiation, or chemical reaction.
States of Matter - What are the 4 states of matter?
The 4
states of matter are therefore:
-
Gas - A Gas is a state of matter has no definite shape or volume (A gas
will expand to fill a container)
-
Solid - A Solid is a state of matter that has its own definite shape and
volume
-
Liquid - A Liquid is a state of matter that has a definite volume (a
liquid will take the shape of a container)
-
Plasma - Plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain
portion of the particles are ionized
States of Matter - Changes to the states of matter
Most
elements are solids, only 11 are gases and 2 are liquids.
Changes, such as pressure and temperature, can alter the States
of Matter (Physical States) of an element and can determine its
relative density (mass or concentration), viscosity (how well it
flows) and malleability (how easy it is to bend).
States of Matter - Physical and Chemical Properties
Most common
substances exist as solids, liquids and gases which have diverse
Physical and
Chemical Properties. Matter can
undergo physical and chemical changes.
States of Matter - Compounds
A
compound is a combination
of two or more elements. A lot of common, everyday matter,
occurs as mixtures which are combinations of two or more
substances.
For
the compound we know as water 2 atoms of Hydrogen combines with
1 atom of oxygen (H2O).
States of Matter - Phase Changes
The
phase or state of matter can change when the temperature
changes, these are called Phase
Changes. For example, when a solid melts and becomes a liquid,
it goes through a phase change in which the state of matter, or
substance, has been altered. Changes in temperature to water can
change it from a liquid (water) to a solid (ice) to a gas (water
vapour / steam).
States of Matter - Elements
The states
of matter of all of the elements is given for normal conditions,
i.e. a temperature of 20°C. The 3 states of matter are either
solid, liquid or gas. Most elements are solids, only 11 are
gases and 2 are liquids.
Alphabetical list of States of Matter
Alphabetical list of States of Matter
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