State of Matter and Change of State for Class 4

Matter

1. Everything in the world is made of something called matter.
2. Matter can exist in three different states: solids, liquids, and gases.
3. All matter, regardless of its state, has two important properties:

1. The first property is matter has mass.
2. The second property is that matter takes up space.

4. When we look around, we see various things, some of which occur naturally in the environment, while others are created by humans.
5. These things come in different shapes, sizes, and colours, but they all have something in common: they have mass and they occupy space.

States of Matter and their Properties

1. Solids

a) Solids are things that have a fixed shape and a fixed size.
b) The tiny particles, called molecules, are packed tightly together in solids.
c) When you move a solid from one container to another, it keeps its shape and doesn't change.
d) Solids do not flow like liquids, and you can't squish them or press them down to make them smaller.
e) Examples of solids are things like wooden desks, rocks, books, toys, chairs, and plates.

2. Liquids

a) Liquids do not have a fixed shape. They can take the shape of the container they are poured into.
b) Liquids have a definite volume. Even though their shape may change, the amount of liquid remains the same.
c) Unlike solids, liquids can move and flow.
d) Liquids are difficult to compress. While they can be compressed slightly, the change in volume is usually very small and not easily noticeable.
e) The molecules in liquids are loosely packed. They are not as tightly arranged as solids. This allows them to move around and flow more freely.
f) Water, soda, ink, juice, and milk are a few examples of liquids.

3. Gases

a) Gases don't have a fixed shape. They can spread out and take up all the space available to them.
b) Gases also don't have a definite volume. This means they can expand or contract depending on the conditions.
c) Gases can be squished or compressed.
d) Gases flow easily, just like liquids. They can move around and mix with other gases.
e) The molecules in gases are spread out and far apart from each other. They have lots of space to move around.
f) Unlike solids and liquids, most gases cannot be seen with our eyes. They are invisible. You can't see oxygen or carbon dioxide, but they're all around us.
g) Examples of gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen

Changes in the States of Matter

a) Matter can be found in different forms called states. These states are solids, liquids, and gases.
b) When we heat or cool matter, it can change from one state to another. This is called a change of state, and it's a physical change, not a chemical one. It means the matter can go back to its original state.
c) There are some common changes of state that we see.

For example, when something solid like ice melts, it turns into a liquid, which is water. And when we cool down water, it can freeze and become ice again. Another change is when water vapour, which is gas, cools down and becomes a liquid, which we call condensation. And when we heat up liquid water, it can change into water vapour, which is a gas.

d) Water can exist in all three states: as a liquid, a solid (ice), and a gas (water vapour).

Effects of Heating or Cooling on Particles of Matter

1. When we heat or cool matter, it affects how the particles in it move.
2. Heating makes the particles move faster.
3. But when we cool the matter, the particles slow down their movement.

Evaporation

a) Evaporation is when water turns into an invisible gas called water vapour because of the heat.
b) For example, when the sun shines brightly, water from rivers and ponds evaporates and disappears into the air.
c) When we hang wet clothes outside, they eventually dry. That's because of evaporation too. The heat from the sun makes the water in the clothes turn into a gas, and it goes into the air, leaving the clothes dry.

Condensation

a) Condensation is a process that happens when a gas turns into a liquid.
b) A very common example of condensation is when you leave a cold glass of water outside on a warm day. You might notice water droplets forming on the outside of the glass. This happens because the air around the glass is warmer, and when it comes in contact with the cold glass, it cools down and turns into liquid water.
c) Condensation is an important part of the water cycle. It's how clouds are formed in the sky.

Freezing

a) Freezing is a process that happens when a liquid gets really cold and turns into a solid.
b) It's like when you put a cup of water in the freezer, and it becomes a hard block of ice.

Melting

a) Melting is a process that happens when something solid, like ice, gets warm and turns into a liquid, like water.
b) For example, when you leave an ice tray outside in a room, the ice cubes start to change into water.
c) Melting happens not only with ice but also with other solids like chocolate or butter. When they are heated, they melt and become liquid.

Types of Change in Matter

Two types of changes can happen to matter: physical changes and chemical changes.

1. Physical Change

a) A physical change happens when the substance changes its appearance or shape, but its identity stays the same.
b) It's like when you cut a piece of paper into smaller pieces or fold it into a different shape. The paper looks different, but it's still paper.
c) Another example is when you freeze water to make ice cubes. The water changes from a liquid to a solid, but it's still water.
d) Physical changes are usually reversible, which means you can change it back to its original form.

2. Chemical Change

a) Chemical changes happen when substances combine or break apart to form new substances with different properties.
b) It's like when something changes into a completely different thing.
c) For example, when paper burns, it turns into ashes, which are completely different from the original paper.
d) Other examples of chemical changes include the ripening of a banana, baking a cake, or cooking vegetables.
e) Once a chemical change happens, it cannot be easily reversed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the properties of a liquid?

Liquids have a fixed volume but can change shape to fit the container they are in. The particles in a liquid are close together but can move around each other.

2. How does heating or cooling affect the state of matter?

Heating can change solids into liquids or liquids into gases, while cooling can change gases into liquids or liquids into solids.

3. Can chemical changes be reversed?

Chemical changes are usually not reversible. Once a new substance is formed, you cannot easily change it back to its original form.

4. What is condensation, and how does it happen?

Condensation is the transformation of a gas into a liquid. It happens when a petrol cools. One example is dew gathering on grass in the morning.

5. Is it possible to change the state of matter?

Yes, simple experiments can modify the condition of matter. For example, freezing water to form ice or boiling water to make steam.