Observing Chemical Changes
14 December, 2023

Observing Chemical Changes

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Introduction:

Leaving a glass of water with floating ice in a room for a sufficient period will result in the ice melting. Does the composition of water change when it transitions from a solid to a liquid state? Most familiar substances exist in solid, liquid, or gaseous states, each with distinct physical and chemical properties. How does a substance transition from a solid to a liquid state?

Introduction:

Pure Chemical Substances:

States of Matter:

Solids:

Liquids:

Gases:

In conclusion:



Pure Chemical Substances:

Every substance that has mass and occupies space is considered matter. For example, pure table salt is a familiar substance with a distinct and constant composition, always consisting of 100% sodium chloride, maintaining its composition across different samples. Pure substances also include pure water, composed of hydrogen and oxygen. However, drinking water and seawater are not pure, containing varying amounts of minerals and other dissolved substances.


States of Matter:

Imagine sitting on a chair, breathing rapidly, and drinking water after playing a soccer match. In this scenario, you are dealing with three forms of matter: the solid chair, the liquid water, and the gaseous air you breathe. Scientists classify all substances into one of these three states of matter, distinguishing them based on how they fill the container they are placed in. Plasma is another state of matter, described as an ionized gas where electrons are free and not bound to atoms or molecules. Although seemingly uncommon, plasma is prevalent in the universe, found in stars, neon signs, and television screens.


Solids:

Solid matter has a definite shape and volume. Examples include wood, iron, paper, and sugar, where particles are closely packed. When heated, solids expand slightly. The tightly packed arrangement of solid particles makes them incompressible, meaning they cannot be easily compressed into a smaller volume. It's noteworthy that the hardness or softness of a solid does not determine its state; for instance, cement is hard, while wax is soft, yet both are solids.


Liquids:

Liquid matter flows and takes the shape of its container. Water, blood, and mercury are examples of liquids with particles that are less ordered than those in solids. This allows liquids to move and flow, taking the shape of the container but maintaining a constant volume. Liquids are incompressible like solids, but they can expand with heating.


Gases:

Gaseous matter takes the shape of the container it fills. Gas particles are much more spread out compared to solid and liquid particles, allowing gases to be easily compressed. While the terms "gas" and "vapor" might seem interchangeable, they have distinct meanings. Gas refers to a substance in a gaseous state at normal temperatures, while vapor refers to the gaseous state of a substance that is solid or liquid at normal temperatures, like water vapor.


In conclusion:


1. We can infer that the change in the state of water from a solid to a liquid, as observed when ice melts, does not coincide with a change in the chemical composition of water at the molecular level. Simply put, water in this state undergoes a rearrangement of its particles without altering its fundamental chemical composition.


2. The importance of pure chemical substances and the differences between various states of matter, ranging from solids to gasses, have been discussed, with a focus on the composition and physical properties of substances.


3. The states of matter form the basis of our understanding of the surrounding world, as we interact daily with things composed of substances in different states. Understanding these states contributes to broadening our perspectives on natural phenomena and material reactions that occur in our daily lives.


4. Understanding the fundamentals of different states of matter aids in explaining many chemical phenomena and reactions witnessed in the world around us.


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