State of Matter
Contents
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.
Brick is a solid material. | Water is a liquid material. | Inside the balloon is a gas called helium. |
Key Stage 3
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 by melting or it can turn a solid straight into a gas by subliming.
- Heating can turn a liquid to a gas. This is called evaporating.
- Cooling can turn a gas into a liquid by condensing or it can turn a gas into a solid by depositing.
- Cooling can turn a liquid into solid. This is called freezing.
This diagram shows the 3 states of matter in the particle model. |
Properties of the States of Matter
Solid | Liquid | Gas |
Cannot be compressed. | Cannot be compressed. | Can be compressed. |
Does not flow. | Can flow. | Can flow. |
Holds its shape. | Fits the shape of the container. | Fits the size and shape of the container. |
Key Stage 4
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 altered by changing the temperature of the material or changing the pressure on the material.
Particle Diagram | Particle Arrangement | Property |
Particles are in fixed positions. | Solids hold their shape. | |
Convection cannot happen in solids. | ||
Particles are very close together. | Solids cannot be compressed. | |
Sound passes through solids faster than liquids and gases. | ||
Particles vibrate. | Thermal Conduction happens best in solids. |
Particle Diagram | Particle Arrangement | Property |
Particles can slide past each other. | Liquids can be poured. | |
Liquids fit the shape of their container. | ||
Convection happens in solids. | ||
Particles and close together. | Liquids cannot be compressed. | |
Sound passes through liquids faster than gases. | ||
Thermal Conduction happens in liquids but not as well as in solids. |
Particle Diagram | Particle Arrangement | Property |
Particles are free to move in all directions. | Gases fit the size of their container. | |
Gases fit the shape of their container. | ||
Convection happens most easily in gases. | ||
Particles are spread apart. | Gases can be compressed into a smaller volume. | |
Sound passes through gases slower than liquids and solids. | ||
Thermal Conduction is very poor in a gases. |