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Matter and Materials - States of Matter (Solids, Liquids, Gases)

Grade 4ICSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. All matter is made up of tiny particles called molecules.

Solids: Molecules are very closely packed with strong forces of attraction. They have a definite shape and a definite volume (e.g., a wooden block or a NaClNaCl crystal).

Liquids: Molecules are less closely packed than solids. They have a definite volume but no definite shape; they take the shape of the container they are poured into (e.g., H2OH_{2}O or oil).

Gases: Molecules are very far apart with very weak forces of attraction. They have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume and fill the entire space available to them (e.g., O2O_{2} or CO2CO_{2}).

Change of State: Matter can change from one state to another by heating or cooling. For example, heating ice (SolidSolid) turns it into water (LiquidLiquid).

Solute, Solvent, and Solution: A solute (like sugar) dissolves in a solvent (like H2OH_{2}O) to form a solution.

📐Formulae

Matter=Mass+VolumeMatter = Mass + Volume

SolidMeltingLiquidSolid \xrightarrow{Melting} Liquid

LiquidEvaporationGasLiquid \xrightarrow{Evaporation} Gas

GasCondensationLiquidGas \xrightarrow{Condensation} Liquid

LiquidFreezingSolidLiquid \xrightarrow{Freezing} Solid

Solute+Solvent=SolutionSolute + Solvent = Solution

💡Examples

Problem 1:

What happens to the molecules of water (H2OH_{2}O) when it is heated to form steam?

Solution:

The molecules move further apart and start moving faster.

Explanation:

Heating provides energy to the molecules, allowing them to overcome their forces of attraction and transition from the liquid state to the gaseous state (steam).

Problem 2:

If you dissolve 10g10g of salt in 100ml100ml of water, identify the solute and the solvent.

Solution:

Solute: Salt; Solvent: Water (H2OH_{2}O).

Explanation:

The substance that is dissolved is the solute, and the medium in which it is dissolved is the solvent.

Problem 3:

Why can a gas be compressed easily while a solid cannot?

Solution:

Because of the large intermolecular spaces in gases.

Explanation:

In gases, molecules are far apart. Applying pressure pushes them closer together. In solids, molecules are already tightly packed with no space to move closer.