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D2.2 A SUMMARY
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We can explain the characteristic properties in terms of the movement and spacing of the particles.

How the particles move (what state the sample is in) depends on the holding ability and energy of the particles.

When a substance changes state, the individual particles do not change. All that changes is how energetic the particles are.


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Notes: see Teachers’ Guide


 
Solid state – the particles are not energetic enough to overcome the hold of the other particles, so the particles are in fixed places.
Liquid state – the particles are energetic enough to move around but the hold still keeps them together in a ‘blob’.
 
Gas state – the particles are energetic enough to overcome the hold completely, so the particles move freely on their own: they do not stay in a ‘lump’ or ‘blob’.
 
 
 
Different substances have different strengths of hold, so different substances at the same temperature can be in different states. The stronger the hold between particles the more energetic they need to be for a change of state.
 
 
teachers’ guide d2



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d1: states
d2: three states



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