Matter
Matter is everywhere! It is anything that has mass (weight) and takes up space. Everything that is found in the world around us, as well as everything in the universe, is composed of matter. Matter is made up of atoms and elements. Matter is usually found in three distinct states on Earth: solids, liquids and gases. We can heat gases up and transform them into a fourth state of matter, known as plasma. Plasma is found naturally in the universe and on the sun. Matter cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another.
Phases or States of Matter:
Solids:
- Solids have fixed shapes and fixed volumes and rigid shapes.
- The molecules in solids are tightly packed together and the bonds are very strong and not as easily broken.
- Often times, the bonds in solids have a lattice or crystalline structure in a specific pattern.
- Ice is less dense than water. This is why it floats!
Liquids:
- Liquids are fluid and will always take on the shape of their container
- Liquids flow
- Liquids have definite volumes but they don't have a fixed shape like solids do
- Liquid molecules are spaced moderately apart. They are closer together that those of gas particles, but they are further apart than those found in solids and their bonds are more easily broken.
- Liquid molecules don't need to travel very far.
- Water is more dense than ice.
- In a container, liquid has a slightly curved upper surface (meniscus), which can be concave or convex, and is caused by surface tension
- Liquid particles are more strongly attracted to the container than to each other when the meniscus is concave, and this is due to adhesion
- Liquid particles are more strongly attracted to each other than to the container when the meniscus is convex, and this is due to cohesion
- Liquid particles are more strongly attracted to the container than to each other when the meniscus is concave, and this is due to adhesion
Gases:
- Have NO fixed volume or shape and will expand to fill a container and take the container's shape
- Molecules are spaced far apart and bump into each other randomly and spontaneously
- Forces between gas particles are very weak, so they are easily broken
- Particles move around freely
- May have an odor or be odorless or colorless and invisible or some may be seen
- May be observed as vapor or steam, such as a hot cup of coffee or tea, boiling water, an iron, a steam engine (train), or a trail left behind by a jet in the sky
- Clouds and fog are forms of vapor
- The universe is made up primarily of the gases hydrogen and helium. Nebulae and stars, as seen in the image below, are primarily made of these gases.
- Bubbles are usually due to gases such as O2 or CO2 in a liquid
Plasma:
- Known as the 4th state of matter
- Can be "created" by heating up gases in a plasma globe, as electrons are stripped from their atoms by the application of electricity (heat), since the electric current is strong and the gases are under low-pressure
- Plasma occurs naturally in the universe and the surface of the sun (corona). In fact, coronal ejections (solar prominences and solar flares) are ejections of plasma from the surface of the sun into outer space. When these reach the Earth by solar wind, they can interfere with the power grids or GPS systems, or they may result in the beautiful Northern lights known as Aurora borealis as these particles enter Earth's atmosphere and light is reflected.
The Chemistry of the Plasma (Tesla) Globe:
The plasma globe, or Tesla globe, is a glass globe filled with a mixture of noble gases, often argon (Ar) and xenon (Xe), and sometimes neon (Ne) or krypton (Kr) at close to atmospheric pressure. In the middle of the sphere sits a high-voltage electrode, which heats up the gases, causing them to transform into plasma. The glass serves as an insulator, trapping the heated gases inside, and the plasma filaments (basically lightening) extend from the electrode in the center to the glass insulator. You can actually feel the heat if you touch the glass globe. The multi-colored lights move around and will follow your hand because of the charged ions present (electrolytes) in your intracellular and extracellular fluids in your body.
Scientist Nikola Tesla invented the Tesla (plasma) globe as he experimented with high-frequency currents and researched high-voltage. The currents are driven by high-voltage alternating current (AC) at approximately 35 kHz. Current from the lower-voltage direct current (DC) exists in a drive circuit (power inverter), which powers a high-frequency electronic oscillator circuit, whose power is increased by the presence of a high-frequency, high-voltage transformer. There is also radio frequency energy present, and you can actually tune into radio frequency through the plasma globe. This energy is transmitted into the gas via the electrode in the middle of the globe.
As the gases heat up, they become more buoyant and lightweight, so the tendrils rise and move around in the globe. The blue/purple tendrils are heated argon (Ar) gas, and the pink "flowers" at the ends of the tendrils are due to heated xenon (Xe) gas. The glass globe is prepared by the removal of as much air as possible, then backfilled with neon to atmospheric pressure.
Placing conductive elements on the surface of the glass globe, such as copper, aluminum, or other metals, will attract the charged particles present in the gas and give you a small electric shock.
Scientist Nikola Tesla invented the Tesla (plasma) globe as he experimented with high-frequency currents and researched high-voltage. The currents are driven by high-voltage alternating current (AC) at approximately 35 kHz. Current from the lower-voltage direct current (DC) exists in a drive circuit (power inverter), which powers a high-frequency electronic oscillator circuit, whose power is increased by the presence of a high-frequency, high-voltage transformer. There is also radio frequency energy present, and you can actually tune into radio frequency through the plasma globe. This energy is transmitted into the gas via the electrode in the middle of the globe.
As the gases heat up, they become more buoyant and lightweight, so the tendrils rise and move around in the globe. The blue/purple tendrils are heated argon (Ar) gas, and the pink "flowers" at the ends of the tendrils are due to heated xenon (Xe) gas. The glass globe is prepared by the removal of as much air as possible, then backfilled with neon to atmospheric pressure.
Placing conductive elements on the surface of the glass globe, such as copper, aluminum, or other metals, will attract the charged particles present in the gas and give you a small electric shock.
What is Mass?
Mass is basically the amount of matter found in an object. Mass and weight are similar, but they are two different things. One way to measure mass is by calculating the force it takes to accelerate (speed up) an object.
Units of Mass:
The kilogram (kg) is the SI unit of mass, and there are 1,000 grams (g) in 1 kg. There are 1,000 mg in 1 g. In the laboratory, we measure units of mass using scales and balances, including manual and digital scales, analytical balances the triple balance.
What is Volume?
Volume is the amount of space that an object occupies.
Units of Volume:
The liter (l) is the SI unit of liquid volume. There are 1,000 liters (l) in 1 kiloliter (kl), and 1,000 ml in 1 liter. In the laboratory, they are usually measured in beakers, Ehrlenmeyer flasks, and graduated cylinders.
What is Density?
Density is the heaviness of an object. It is the object's mass divided by its volume. D=m/v
What is Weight?
Weight is the force that gravity exerts on an object.
The Law of Conservation of Matter:
Hydrometers:
Hydrometers can be used to measure the relative density of a liquid. The level at which it floats determines the density of the liquid.
Changing States of Matter:
The ability of matter to change states is dependent upon its temperature.
- Solids can change to liquids when heated
- Liquids can change to gases when heated
- When substances are heated, their particles vibrate/move faster and break the bonds holding the molecules together.
- Gases change to liquids when cooled.
- When substances are cooled, their particles move slower and bonds re-form between the molecules.
- CO2 in dry ice form, going straight from a solid to a gas, is referred to as sublimation
- When substances are cooled, their particles move slower and bonds re-form between the molecules.
Melting:
- Occurs as a solid becomes a liquid
- Melting point of water: 0 degrees Celsius, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit; Anything at or below this point will melt
Condensation:
- Occurs as a gas becomes a liquid
- Occurs at or below boiling point
Boiling Point:
- Condensation occurs at or below the boiling point of a substance
Evaporation:
- Occurs as a liquid becomes a gas
- Occurs above boiling point
Freezing Point:
- Occurs as a liquid freezes to a solid below a temperature called its freezing point
Sublimation:
- Occurs when a solid converts directly into a gas while skipping the liquid phase altogether
- An example is a block of dry ice becoming steam/vapor
Convection:
Convection is the movement of molecules within liquids or gases or soft solids, and is a transfer of heat.
Conduction:
Three States of Water:
Ice |
Liquid
|
Steam
|
|
|
|
Pressure:
- By sealing a container, pressure inside will raise the boiling point of water
- Water molecules need more heat energy to escape as gas, which they cannot in a sealed container being heated
- The higher temperatures cause food to cook more quickly in a pressure cooker
- Pressure builds up, and most pressure cookers or vats contain safety valves so you can slowly let out excess steam or gas
Solutions:
Solution-a special type of homogenous mixture that contains a liquid as a solvent
Solvent-the liquid in which the solute is being dissolved
Solute-the substance being dissolved
Solubility-the ability of one compound to dissolve in another compound
Exothermic-energy releasing
Endothermic-energy consuming
Entropy-random free energy
Enthalpy-
- An aqueous solution is one in which water is the solvent
- Stable
- Particles of light cannot be scattered
- Liquid solutions
- Gaseous solutions
- Solid solutions
Solvent-the liquid in which the solute is being dissolved
Solute-the substance being dissolved
Solubility-the ability of one compound to dissolve in another compound
- Miscible: it can dissolve completely
- Immiscible: it cannot dissolve completely
Exothermic-energy releasing
Endothermic-energy consuming
Entropy-random free energy
Enthalpy-
Mixtures:
Mixture-two or more different substances are combined
Heterogenous Mixture-the mixture is not uniform and each part of the solution is different and retains its own unique properties
Homogenous Mixture (Solution or Suspension)-the mixture is uniform and each part of the solution contains the same properties
Heterogenous Mixture-the mixture is not uniform and each part of the solution is different and retains its own unique properties
- Oil and vinegar
- Oil and water
- Clay
- Silt
- Sand
- Gravel
- Dust
- Chalk
- Colloids
- Hair spray
- Aerosols
- Fog
- Mist
- Vapor
- Foam
- Shaving cream
- Whipped cream
- Tapioca pudding
- Pigmented ink
- Blood
- Styrofoam
- Pumice
- Gels
- Toothpaste
- Agar
- Hair spray
- Emulsions
- Body or hand lotions
- Milk
- Mayonnaise
- Body or hand lotions
Homogenous Mixture (Solution or Suspension)-the mixture is uniform and each part of the solution contains the same properties
- Alloys
- Alcohols in water
- Tea
- Coffee
- TANG
- Air
- Gas
- Oxygen in water
- Sugar in water
References:
- OpenStax Chemistry-https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry
- Personal Teaching Experience (College Level, Middle School Level)