Ch.2 States and Changes of Matter

solid

state of matter with definite shape and definite volume

liquid

state of matter with NO definite shape but has a definite volume

gas

state of matter with NO definite shape and NO definite volume

plasma

gas-like state of matter consisting of a mixture of free electrons and atoms that are stripped of their electrons

physical attractions

attraction between particles that wants them to STICK together

sun

well known star that consists of plasma gas

lightning

produces plasma gas

fluorescent lights

glows when mercury gas forms into a plasma state

aurora borealis

occur when highly charged electrons from the solar wind interact with elements in the earth's atmosphere forming a plasma state.

melting

the change in state from a solid to a liquid

freezing

the change in state from a liquid to a solid

evaporating/evaporation

the process that occurs when VAPORIZATION takes place ONLY at the SURFACE;(change in state from liquid to gas at surface)

boiling

the process that occurs when VAPORIZATION takes place INSIDE a liquid as well as on the SURFACE; (change in state from liquid to gas throughout the liquid)

condensing/condensation

change in state from a gas to a liquid

sublimating/sublimation

change in state from a SOLID directly to a GAS without passing through the liquid state (and vice versa)

vaporizing/vaporization

change in state form a liquid to a gas (can describe either evaporating or boiling)

boiling point

the temperature in which a liquid becomes a gas

melting point

the temperature in which a solid becomes a liquid

kinetic theory

everything is made of moving particles

matter

anything that has mass and takes up space (volume)

crystalline

solids that are made up of crystals

amorphous

solid particles that are not arranged in a regular pattern; it may become softer and softer

surface tension

is the result of an inward pull among the molecules of a liquid that brings the molecules on the surface closer together;acts like sort of skin on the surface