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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
Solid, Liquid and Gas - Particle Motion.
Solid.
In a solid, the particles
can vibrate
but they cannot move from one place to another.
As the solid is heated, the particles
vibrate more and more
until the force of attraction between them is overcome.
The temperature at which this happens
is called the melting
point.
Above this temperature, the solid has become a liquid.
Liquid.
In a liquid the force of
attraction between the particles
is weaker than it is in the
solid.
It is still strong enough that the
particles are held close to each other
but they are now free to move.
As the liquid is heated, the particles
move faster and faster
until they overcome the force of attraction
between them.
The temperature at which this happens
is called the boiling
point.
Above this temperature, the liquid has become a gas.
Gas.
A gas
takes up a lot more space (occupies a greater volume)
than the boiling liquid it came from. This is called expansion.
In a gas, the particles move fast
in random directions.
There is no force of attraction
between the particles.
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