Changes of State:
Solid to Liquid to Gas
Temperature is the measurement that tells how hot or cold a material is. When a material's
temperature changes, its state may change.
Changes in state refer to the physical changes that matter undergoes when it transitions from one
state (solid, liquid, or gas) to another.
Melting is the process by which a solid is heated and transformed into a liquid. This occurs when
the temperature of the material reaches its melting point.
Freezing is the process by which a liquid is cooled and transformed into a solid. This occurs when
the temperature of the material reaches its freezing point.
Evaporation is the process by which a liquid is heated and transformed into a gas. This occurs
when the temperature of the material reaches its boiling point.
Condensation is the process by which a gas is cooled and transformed into a liquid. This occurs
when the temperature of the material reaches its condensation point.
• Heating a Solid: As we add heat (energy) to a solid (like ice), the particles gain kinetic
energy and start vibrating more vigorously. This disrupts the rigid structure, causing them to move
around more.
• Transitioning to Liquid: With increased movement, the particles in the solid can no longer
maintain their fixed positions. They overcome the forces holding them together, leading to a looser
arrangement and the
• • Liquid to Gas: Further heating the liquid (like boiling water) provides even more energy to
the particles. They move so fast that they overcome the remaining attractive forces and spread out
far apart, transforming the liquid into a gas.
Key Points for Freezing:
• Freezing is the process in which a liquid changes into a solid state when cooled.
• It is the reverse process of melting, involving the removal of thermal energy from the
substance.
• During freezing, the particles in the liquid slow down and arrange themselves into a solid
structure
Key Points for Condensation:
• Condensation is the process in which a gas changes into a liquid state when cooled.
• It occurs when gas particles lose energy and come together to form liquid droplets.
• Condensation commonly occurs when warm, moist air cools down, such as when warm air
meets a cooler surface or when warm air rises and cools in the atmosphere.
