The particles within a matter

This article is basically on the particles within a matter. The particle within each state of matter moves differently because of the difference in the intermolecular forces. The intermolecular forces are the forces that keep the particles within matter together. Because of the intermolecular forces, we change the states of matter.

There are 3 basic states of matter, the solid, liquid and gas. The solid has the strongest intermolecular forces, liquid has the next strongest intermolecular forces and gas has the weakest intermolecular forces.

To change a solid to a liquid, we add heat to it and this change in state is called melting. When we add heat to a solid, we are weakening the intermolecular forces between each particle as the heat energy changes into chemical potential energy within each particle and it changes to kinetic energy. The kinetic energy caused the particles to have enough energy to weaken the intermolecular forces between each particle, causing the solid to change shape and become a liquid. To change a liquid to a solid, we take heat away from it and when the liquid has less heat, the particles have less kinetic energy causing the intermolecular forces between each particle to strengthen and become solid.

“How do the particles within each state of matter move and how are the particles arranged?” you might ask. Well, in solids, the particles are tightly packed and have a repeatable pattern, giving the definite shape and volume properties of the solid. Since they are so tightly packed and have strong intermolecular forces, their movements are very restricted. The particles could only vibrate on the spot.
Then, in liquid, the particles are widely spread and they do not have a repeatable pattern. Because their intermolecular forces are not that strong, they do not have a definite shape but they do have a definite volume. They move randomly and freely as the space between each particle is quite huge. Their movements cause the particles to slide over each other. Because of this sliding movement, evaporation occurs. At the surface of the water, when the particles slide over each other, they tend to slide away from the whole liquid and evaporate.

Lastly, in gas, the particles are very widely spread and they do not have a repeatable pattern. The space between each particle is ten times larger as compared to the space between the particles of a solid and liquid. The intermolecular forces between each particle is so weak that it not only causes gas to have an indefinite shape, it also causes it to have an indefinite volume. The particles within the gas, moves randomly and freely, allowing it cover any uncovered space.