Change of State
Created and Edited by Maite Marin-Mera (Spring 2017)
Short Description of Topic
The Main Idea
All matter can move from one state to another under the right conditions. Depending on the properties of the matter changing states may require extreme temperature or pressure however it can be done. There are five different states of matter; gas, liquid, solid, plasma, and Bose-Einstein condensate.[1] The main idea of this wiki page is to discuss the properties of matter as it transitions between different states and how this relates to energy transfer.
An Overview
All matter can transition between the states dependent on its intrinsic properties. During these transitions there is a large change on the microscopic and macroscopic level of the matter. There is also typically a transfer of energy either into of from the matter undergoing the change.
Solid/Liquid
A very common phase change is between liquid and solids. This change of state is referred to as freezing (liquid to solid) or melting (solid to liquid).
So what is going on a microscopic level? In a solid the atoms and molecules are packed tightly together. This tightly packed arrangement does not allow for much movement between the particles. Therefore a solid has low kinetic energy. In the liquid phase the particles of a substance have more kinetic energy that those in a solid. The atoms and molecules have more movement. In the change of state from solid to liquid there is energy required to overcome the binding forces that maintain its solid structure. This energy is called the heat of fusion.
Liquid/Gas
Other States
A Mathematical Model
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A Computational Model
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Examples
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Connectedness
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History
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See also
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Further reading
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External links
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