Three States of Matter Notes- Newton 
Holt: Chapter 3, Sections 1 and 2 
States of matter 
• The physical forms in which a substance can exist 
• Solid 
• Liquid 
• Gas 
• All made of particles called atoms and molecules 
Solids 
• Have definite shape and volume 
• Particles are very close together 
• Attraction is stronger than the same substance in another form 
• Particles do move! They vibrate in place. 
• Two types 
• Crystalline 
• Have orderly, 3-D arrangement of particles, ex. iron, diamond, ice 
• Amorphous 
• Do not have special arrangement, ex. wax, glass, rubber 
Liquids 
• Definite volume, no definite shape 
• Particles slide past each other to take the shape of 
container 
Unique characteristics of liquids 
Surface tension 
• a force that acts on the particles at the surface of a liquid that tends to minimize the area of the surface 
Viscosity 
• a liquid’s resistance to flow 
• The stronger attraction between molecules, the more viscous. 
Gases 
• No definite shape or volume- can be compressed 
• Particles move very quickly! 
• Particles have less attraction than solids or liquids of the same substance. 
Particles do not move fast 
enough to overcome the 
strong attraction between 
them. They are close 
together and vibrate in 
place. 
Particles move fast enough to overcome 
the attraction between them. They are 
close together but can slide past one 
another.
Behavior of gases- the volume of a gas may be affected by temperature and pressure 
Temperature 
• A measure of how hot or cold something is; specifically, a measure of the movement of particles 
• Faster particles have more energy 
• Faster particles cause expansion 
Pressure 
• The amount of force exerted on a given area of surface 
• “the number of times particles of gas hit the sides of their container” 
Gas laws 
Boyle’s Law 
• P ↑ V ↓ 
Charles’ Law 
• T ↑ V ↑

Three states of matter notes

  • 1.
    Three States ofMatter Notes- Newton Holt: Chapter 3, Sections 1 and 2 States of matter • The physical forms in which a substance can exist • Solid • Liquid • Gas • All made of particles called atoms and molecules Solids • Have definite shape and volume • Particles are very close together • Attraction is stronger than the same substance in another form • Particles do move! They vibrate in place. • Two types • Crystalline • Have orderly, 3-D arrangement of particles, ex. iron, diamond, ice • Amorphous • Do not have special arrangement, ex. wax, glass, rubber Liquids • Definite volume, no definite shape • Particles slide past each other to take the shape of container Unique characteristics of liquids Surface tension • a force that acts on the particles at the surface of a liquid that tends to minimize the area of the surface Viscosity • a liquid’s resistance to flow • The stronger attraction between molecules, the more viscous. Gases • No definite shape or volume- can be compressed • Particles move very quickly! • Particles have less attraction than solids or liquids of the same substance. Particles do not move fast enough to overcome the strong attraction between them. They are close together and vibrate in place. Particles move fast enough to overcome the attraction between them. They are close together but can slide past one another.
  • 2.
    Behavior of gases-the volume of a gas may be affected by temperature and pressure Temperature • A measure of how hot or cold something is; specifically, a measure of the movement of particles • Faster particles have more energy • Faster particles cause expansion Pressure • The amount of force exerted on a given area of surface • “the number of times particles of gas hit the sides of their container” Gas laws Boyle’s Law • P ↑ V ↓ Charles’ Law • T ↑ V ↑