Everything around you is made of matter, and matter is made of particles far too small to see. How those particles are arranged decides the state. In a solid, particles are packed tightly and vibrate in place, so a solid keeps its own shape and volume. In a liquid, particles are close together but can slide past each other, so a liquid takes the shape of its container while keeping the same volume. In a gas, particles are far apart and move quickly in all directions, so a gas spreads out to fill any container.
Adding or removing heat changes the state. At sea level, pure water freezes and ice melts at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), and water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). The NGSS standard 5-PS1-1 asks fifth graders to model matter as tiny particles, and 5-PS1-2 asks them to show that the total weight of matter stays the same when it changes state, even when it seems to disappear. Use those two ideas to reason through each question below.
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Answer: C) Solid
Particles in a solid are locked tightly in place, so solids keep their own shape and volume.
Answer: liquid (also accepted: a liquid, liquids)
Liquid particles are close together but can slide past each other, so the liquid flows to fit its container without changing volume.
Answer: B) Gas
Gas particles have the most energy. They are far apart and move quickly in every direction.
Answer: 32 (also accepted: 32°F, 32 °F, 32 F, 32 degrees, 32 degrees fahrenheit)
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, which is 0 times 9/5 plus 32 = 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Answer: B) 212°F
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Converting: 100 times 9/5 plus 32 = 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Answer: freezing (also accepted: freeze, solidifying, solidification)
Freezing happens when a liquid loses heat and its particles lock into place.
Answer: C) sublimation
Going directly from solid to gas is sublimation.
Answer: 50 (also accepted: 50 g, 50 grams)
Mass is conserved. Melting changes the state, not the amount of matter, so it is still 50 grams.
Answer: B) They move faster and begin to slide past each other.
Heat gives particles more energy. They move faster until they break free of their fixed positions and flow.
Answer: condensation (also accepted: condensing)
Condensation is the change from gas to liquid when vapor cools.
Answer: A) Oxygen
Oxygen is a gas at room temperature. Iron and sand are solids, and milk is a liquid.
Answer: 100 (also accepted: 100°C, 100 °C, 100 C, 100 degrees, 100 degrees celsius)
212 degrees Fahrenheit converts to (212 minus 32) times 5/9 = 100 degrees Celsius.
Answer: C) 0°C and 32°F
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, which is the same temperature as 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gases are matter, so they have mass and take up space. A ball pumped full of air is heavier than a flat one.
When ice melts in a sealed bag, the mass stays the same. The particles rearrange; none are lost.
Water freezes at 32 degrees F but 0 degrees C, and boils at 212 degrees F but 100 degrees C. Always check the scale.
True steam (water vapor) is invisible. The white cloud is tiny droplets that have already condensed in cooler air.
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Open the student portal →Flames contain hot glowing gases and, in very hot flames, some plasma. At elementary level, focus on the three common states: solid, liquid and gas.
Only at sea level. Higher up, such as on a mountain, the air pressure is lower and water boils at a lower temperature.