Key Stage 2
Meaning
State of matter means whether a material is solid, liquid or gas.
About States of Matter
- Materials can be solid, liquid or gas.
- The state of matter can be changed by heating or cooling the material.
- Heating can turn a solid into a liquid. This is called melting.
- Heating can turn a liquid to a gas. This is called evaporating.
- Cooling can turn a gas into a liquid. This is called condensing.
- Cooling can turn a liquid into solid. This is called freezing.
Solid
Solids are a state of matter that:
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- Cannot be poured.
- Hold their shape if you leave them alone.
- Do not flow.
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| Solids cannot be squashed into a smaller size. You can change their shape by squashing, but their size stays the same.
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Examples of solid materials:
- Brick
- Wood
- Plastic
- Glass
- Ice
Liquid
Liquids are a state of matter that:
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- Can be poured and will flow.
- Cannot hold their shape
- Fit the shape of the container.
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| Liquids cannot be squashed into a smaller size. You can change their shape, but their size stays the same.
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Examples of liquid materials:
Gas
Gases are a state of matter that:
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- Cannot hold their shape.
- Fit the shape of their container.
- Can be poured and will flow.
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| Gases can be squashed into a smaller size.
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Examples of gas materials:
- Air (A mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen)
- Steam
