Sorting and Separation of Materials

What is Matter ?

  • Anything which occupies space or volume, has mass is called matter
  • All materials are made of matter.
  • Examples of things made of Matter- chair, pencil, car etc.
  • Things that does not have any matter ( Non matter Things ) - Anger, thirst, radio signals
  • Non matter things do not occupy space or volume nor has mass.

Different forms or states of Matter

Can air be classified as matter?

Yes. Even though it is invisible, air has very low mass
and occupies volume. So it is classified as matter.

Composition of Matter:

  • Matter in any state is composed of small particles—molecules, atoms or ions.
  • Matter is made of tiny particles known as atoms and molecules.
  • Molecules are also made of atoms.
  • Hence, atoms are the building blocks of matter

1. Atom:

  •  An atom is the smallest particle of an element which exhibits all the properties of that element.
  • It may or may not exist independently but takes part in every chemical reaction.

 Basic structure of atom

  • Atoms are built of subatomic particles—protons, neutrons and electrons.
  • The nucleus at the center of the atom contains protons (+very charged) and neutrons (no charge).
  • Orbits or shells are imaginary paths in which electrons (-very charged) revolve around the nucleus.
  •  Examples : sodium metal, iron etc.

2. Molecules:

  •  Atoms of the same element or different elements combine to form a molecule.
  • A molecule is the smallest particle of a pure substance (element or compound)which can exist independently and retain the physical and chemical properties of the substance.
  • Example: water molecule contains 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, but these three atoms are grouped together as one water molecule with its unique chemical and physical properties.

Characteristics of Particles of Matters:

Matter is particulate in nature.
  •  Particles of matter are small
  •  Particles of matter have spaces between them
  •  Particles of matter are in continuous motion due to kinetic energy of particles.
  •  Particles of matter attract each other due to intermolecular forces of attraction.

States of Matter:

Matter can be classified into following states based on its physical state and characteristics:
a) Solid
b) Liquid
c) Gas
d) Plasma
e) Bose- Einstein condensate.

a) Characteristics of Solid:

Pattern - 
  • Particles are closely packed together
Shape / Volume -
  • Solids have fixed shape/volume due to strong inter-molecular forces of attraction and tight packing.
Movement -
  • Vibrate only, no movement because particles have Low kinetic energy.
  • They are not easily compressible because of negligible inter particular spaces.
  • Low diffusibilty, high density.
Examples:
  • wood,
  • ice,
  • salt,
  • sugar

b) Characteristics of Liquid:

Pattern —
  •  Particles are not as tightly packed as a solid
Movement -
  • Higher movement than a solid. (Higher kinetic energy than solids).
  •  Liquid have fluidity because of motion.
Shape / Volume -
  • Liquid has no fixed shape but fixed volume due to medium strength of intermolecular forces of attraction and small inter particular spaces.
  • More compressible than a solid because of small inter particular spaces
  • Medium diffusibilty, medium density
Examples:
  • Water,
  • Oil.

c) Characteristics of Gas:

Pattern - Particles are loosely packed
Movement - Particles are in random motion due to high kinetic energy)
Shape / Volume - Gases have no fixed shape or volume due to negligible
intermolecular forces of attraction and large inter particular spaces
Highly compressible because of large inter particular spaces
High diffusibilty, fluidity because of free random motion of particles.
low density
Examples: atmosphere, Helium.
Scientists have now discovered two more states of matter Plasma, Bose- Einstein
condensate.
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d) Characteristics of Plasma :

• It is highly ionized gas which has equal number of positive and negative charges, which
exist in a highly energetic and super excited form. It is formed only at an extremely high
temperature of the order of 5000°C. This state is a good conductor of electricity and is
affected by magnetic fields.
• Indefinite shape or volume similar to gases. Examples: aurora, lightning, fluorescent light

e) Characteristics of Bose- Einstein Condensate (BEC):

• This state arises from cooling of gas to very low temperatures where the molecules
become very close to each other than that of a solid.
• No practical applications yet.




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V) Changes of States of Matter:
Three states of matter can be transformed from one form to the other by changing the
conditions of temperature and pressure. They are reversible changes that do not
involve changes in matter's chemical makeup or chemical properties.
SOLID
condensation
LIQUID
evaporation
GAS
Changes between Liquids and Solids
• The process in which a liquid changes to a solid is called freezing. Change of Water to
ice on reducing temperature.
• The process in which a solid changes to a liquid is called melting. Change of Ice to water
on increasing temperature.
Changes between Liquids and Gases
• The process in which a liquid boils and changes to a gas is called vaporization. On
increasing temperature change of water to water vapor.
• A liquid can also change to a gas without boiling. This process is called evaporation. It
occurs when particles at the exposed surface of a liquid absorb just enough energy to
pull away from the liquid and escape into the air.
• The process in which a gas changes to a liquid is called condensation. On reducing
temperature water vapor forms fog
Changes between Solids and Gases
• The process in which a solid changes directly to a gas is called sublimation. Dry ice
(solid carbon dioxide, CO2) is an example of a solid that undergoes sublimation
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• The opposite of sublimation is deposition. This is the process in which a gas changes
directly to a solid without going through the liquid state. For example, when water vapor
in the air contacts a very cold windowpane, the water vapor may change to tiny ice
crystals on the glass. The ice crystals are called frost.
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