States of Matter Forms of matter differing in several properties because of differences in the motions and forces of the molecules

(or atoms, ions, or elementary particles) of which they are composed. The states of matter are also known as phases of matter or states of aggregation. There are three commonly recognized states of matter: solid, li uid, and gas. The molecules of a solid are limited to vibration about a fi!ed position. This restriction gives a solid both a definite volume and a definite shape. "s energy in the form of heat is added to a solid, its molecules begin to vibrate more rapidly until they break out of their fi!ed positions and the solid becomes a li uid. The change from solid to li uid is called melting and occurs at a definite temperature, the melting point. The molecules of a li uid are free to move throughout the li uid but are held from escaping from the li uid by intermolecular forces (see adhesion and cohesion). This gives a li uid a definite volume but no definite shape. "s more heat is added to the li uid, some molecules gain enough energy to break away completely from the li uid and escape into the surrounding space (see evaporation). Finally a temperature is reached at which molecules throughout the li uid are becoming energetic enough to escape and bubbles of vapor form and rise to the surface. The change of the li uid to a vapor, or gas, in this manner is called boiling and occurs at the boiling point. The molecules of a gas are free to move in every possible way# a gas has neither a definite shape nor a definite volume but e!pands to fill any container in which it is placed. $n addition to these three states of matter, scientists also distinguish three additional states%plasma and the &ose'(instein and the fermionic condensates. " plasma is formed by adding still more heat to the molecules of a gas. (ventually a point is reached where the molecules are moving so rapidly that the molecules become torn apart into their component atoms and individual electrons are pulled away from the atoms. This very hot mi!ture of negatively charged electrons and positively charged ions has properties distinct from those of the other states of matter. &ose'(instein condensate and fermionic condensates are formed by chilling the molecules of a gas. "s temperatures approach absolute zero (')*+.,-./), the motion of the individual atoms slows to the point where they combine to form a single 0super atom1 with properties distinct from those of other states of matter.

Adhesion and Cohesion "dhesion and cohesion are attractive forces between material bodies. " distinction is usually made between an adhesive force, which acts to hold two separate bodies together (or to stick one body to another) and a cohesive force,

which acts to hold together the like or unlike atoms, ions, or molecules of a single body. 2owever, both forces result from the same basic properties of matter. " number of phenomena can be e!plained in terms of adhesion and cohesion. For e!ample, surface tension in li uids results from cohesion, and capillarity results from a combination of adhesion and cohesion. The hardness of a diamond is due to the strong cohesive forces between the carbon atoms of which it is made. Friction between two solid bodies depends in part upon adhesion. Condensates 3atter in the form of a gas of atoms, molecules, or elementary particles that have been so chilled that their motion is virtually halted and as a conse uence they lose their separate identities and merge into a single entity. " &ose' (instein condensate, the fifth state of matter, is formed at low temperatures when a significant number of the elementary particles classified as bosons collapse into the same uantum state. " similar condensate that consists of fermions instead of bosons is known as a fermionic condensate, the si!th

Evaporation /hange of a li uid into vapor at any temperature below its boiling point. For e!ample, water, when placed in a shallow open container e!posed to air, gradually disappears, evaporating at a rate that depends on the amount of surface e!posed, the humidity of the air, and the temperature. (vaporation occurs because among the molecules near the surface of the li uid there are always some with enough heat energy to overcome the cohesion of their neighbours and escape (see adhesion and cohesion# matter). "t higher temperatures the number of energetic molecules is greater, and evaporation is more rapid. (vaporation is also increased by increasing the surface area of the li uid or by increasing the air circulation. Thus it carries away the energetic molecules leaving the li uid before they can be slowed enough by collisions with air molecules to be reabsorbed into the li uid. $f the air is humid some water molecules from the air will pass back into the li uid, thus reducing the rate of evaporation. "n increase in atmospheric pressure also reduces evaporation. The process of evaporation is always accompanied by a cooling effect. For e!ample, when a li uid evaporates from the skin, a cooling sensation results. The reason for this is that only the most energetic molecules of li uid are lost by evaporation, so that the average energy of the remaining molecules decreases# the surface temperature, which is a measure of this average energy, decreases also. 3any refrigeration processes are based on this principle.

Condensation $t is the conversion of water from a gas into a li uid . $n physics, change of a substance from the gaseous (vapor) to the li uid state (see states of matter). /ondensation is the reverse of vaporization, or change from li uid to gas. $t can be brought about by cooling, as in distillation, or by an increase in pressure resulting in a decrease in volume. /ertain natural phenomena, such as dew, fog, mist, and clouds, are the result of the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere# the formation of dew illustrates well the fundamental principles involved in such phenomena. The e!planation of condensation can be found in the kinetic'molecular theory of gases. "s heat is removed from a gas, the molecules of the gas move more slowly, and as a result, the intermolecular forces are strong enough to pull the molecules together to form droplets of li uid. 4imilarly, reducing the volume of the gas reduces the average distance between molecules and thus favors the intermolecular forces tending to pull them together.

SAMPLE ANSWER The three states in which matter can e!ist under normal conditions can be categorized as solid, li uid and gas. The properties of each matter differ in the motion and forces of the molecules. 5hen we want to make ice, li uid is transformed into a solid. 2ere, water is used. The atoms and molecules are a bit sparse. The molecules are mobiles, though not as much as in a gas , but more in a solid. 5hen water is placed in a freezer at temperatures of 00 / or below, the atoms and

molecules lose energy. The movement of these molecules slows down and they begin to form clusters. This process is called freezing, and this is how ice is formed from mere water. The reverse happens when heat is applied to ice. The atoms and molecules in the ice'cube are closel held together and there is little movement. 5hen heat is applied for e!ample, when we leave an ice'cube in the sun, or when we place it in hot water, the atoms and molecules gain energy. They begin to move at a faster rate. They vibrate and move apart. 5hen this happens, the solid state of the ice'cube changes into the li uid state of water. This process is called melting! 5hen more heat is applied, the atoms and molecules gain even more energy. They move at an even faster rate and move further apart. This process is called evaporation. The li uid state of water changes into vapour or gas.