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10.1: Introduction

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    • Boundless
    • Boundless

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    learning objectives

    • Assess the distinguishing characteristics of the four states of matter

    There are a number of properties that can be observed in a material that identify what state the matter is in — solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.

    Solids

    image

    Solid: Solids are in a state of matter that maintains a fixed volume and shape.

    A solid is in a state of matter that maintains a fixed volume and shape. A solid’s particles fit closely together. The forces between the particles are so strong that the particles can not move freely; they can only vibrate. This causes a solid to be a stable, non-compressible shape with definite volume.

    Liquids

    image

    Liquid: Liquids maintain a fixed volume, but their shape will mold to the shape of the container they are being held in.

    A liquid maintains a fixed volume, but its shape will mold to the shape of the container it is being held in. In, you can see that even though the liquid’s shape is determined by the container, it has a free surface that is not controlled by the container. The particles are close together but not as close as in solids; they are still able to move around, which causes the liquid to flow. Liquids usually have a higher volume than their solid counterparts, except for certain molecules, such as H2O (water).

    Gases

    image

    Gas: The particles are much farther from each other, usually a farther length than the size of the particles, and move a lot

    shows a gas, whose particles move around a lot and are much farther apart from each other, usually farther apart than the diameter of the particles themselves. The gas behaves like a liquid; the particles are moving but are still attracted to each other, so they still flow. Unlike a solid or a liquid, the gas will try to fill whatever container it is in, adapting its volume accordingly.

    Plasma

    Plasma is a gas that has been ionized. That is to say, sufficient energy has been supplied to the gas such that the electrons have enough energy to escape their atoms or molecules. Plasma contains ions and electrons that can move around freely. Matter in the plasma state has variable volume and shape. Plasma is the most common form of visible matter in the universe. Lightning, sparks, neon lights, and the sun are all examples of matter in the plasma state.

    image

    Plasma: Matter in the plasma state has variable volume and shape, but as well as neutral atoms, it contains a significant number of ions and electrons, both of which can move around freely.

    Phase Transitions

    shows the different states of matter and how they can change from one to another as a function of enthalpy and pressure and temperature changes. A solid can change to a liquid with an enthalpy increase. The process of a liquid going to a solid is known as melting. A liquid can change into a gas when it hits its boiling point or can even enter a plasma state if the enthalpy is increased enough. When the enthalpy is lowered, a liquid can transform into a solid through freezing. Sometimes, a solid can skip freezing and go directly to a gaseous state; this process is called sublimation.

    image

    States of Matter: This figure illustrates the relationship between the enthalpy of a system and the state of matter that the system is in.

    What is a Fluid?

    A fluid is a substance that continually deforms (flows) under an applied shear stress.

    learning objectives

    • Explain the properties of substances under an applied shear stress

    A fluid is a substance that continually deforms (flows) under an applied shear stress. Fluids are a subset of the states of matter and include three of the four states—liquids, gases, and plasma (shown in ).

    image

    Four Fundamental States of Matter: Four fundamental states of matter: 1) top left corner corresponds to solid; 2) top right corner corresponds to liquid; 3) bottom left corner corresponds to gas; 4) bottom right corner corresponds to plasma.

    Liquids form a free surface (i.e., a surface not created by the container) while gases do not. The distinction between solids and fluid is not entirely obvious. The distinction is made by evaluating the viscosity of the substance. Silly Putty can be considered to behave like a solid or a fluid, depending on the time period over which it is observed. It is best described as a viscoelastic fluid.

    Fluids display properties such as:

    • a) not resisting deformation or resisting it only lightly (viscosity), and
    • b) the ability to flow (also described as the ability to take on the shape of the container).

    This also means that all fluids have the property of fluidity. These properties are typically a function of their inability to support a shear stress in static equilibrium.

    Solids can be subjected to shear stresses, and normal stresses—both compressive and tensile. In contrast, ideal fluids can only be subjected to normal, compressive stress (called pressure). Real fluids display viscosity and so are capable of being subjected to low levels of shear stress.

    Although the term fluid includes both the liquid and gas phases, it is also commonly used as a synonym for liquid, with no implication that gas could also be present. For example, “brake fluid” is hydraulic oil and will not perform its required function if there is gas in it. This colloquial usage of the term is also common in the fields of medicine and nutrition (e.g., “take plenty of fluids”).

    Key Points

    • Solids are non-compressible and have constant volume and constant shape.
    • Liquids are non-compressible and have constant volume but can change shape. A liquid’s shape is dictated by the shape of the container it is in.
    • Gases do not have a constant volume or shape; they not only take the shape of the container they are in, they try to fill the entire container.
    • Matter in the plasma state has variable volume and shape. Plasma contains ions and electrons, both of which can move around freely.
    • Fluids are a subset of the states of matter and include liquids, gases, and plasma.
    • Fluids display properties such as: not resisting deformation or resisting it only lightly ( viscosity ), and the ability to flow (also described as the ability to take on the shape of the container).
    • Ideal fluids can only be subjected to normal, compressive stress which is called pressure. Real fluids display viscosity and thus are capable of being subjected to low levels of shear stress.

    Key Items

    • plasma: a state of matter consisting of partially ionized gas
    • enthalpy: the total amount of energy in a system, including both the internal energy and the energy needed to displace its environment
    • sublimation: the transition of a substance from the solid phase directly to the vapor state such that it does not pass through the intermediate, liquid phase
    • fluidity: A measure of the extent to which something is fluid. The reciprocal of its viscosity.
    • viscosity: A quantity expressing the magnitude of internal friction in a fluid, as measured by the force per unit area resisting uniform flow.
    • shear stress: The component of stress that causes parallel layers of a material to move relative to each other in their own planes.

    LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS

    CC LICENSED CONTENT, SHARED PREVIOUSLY

    CC LICENSED CONTENT, SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTION

    This page titled 10.1: Introduction is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Boundless.

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    2. Tags
      1. enthalpy
      2. fluidity
      3. Plasma
      4. shear stress
      5. sublimation
      6. Viscosity