States of Matter & Bonding — GCSE Chemistry Revision
Revise States of Matter & Bonding for GCSE Chemistry. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Structure & Properties of Giant LatticesWhat is States of Matter & Bonding?
The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. The state of a substance at a particular temperature and pressure depends on the strength of the forces between its particles. The type of bonding (ionic, covalent, or metallic) determines the properties of the substance in each state.
Board notes: All boards require you to know the properties of solids, liquids, and gases in terms of particle arrangement and movement, and to be able to describe changes of state. Higher-tier students should be able to explain these in terms of particle theory and bonding.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
When ice (solid water) is heated, the water molecules gain kinetic energy and vibrate more. At 0°C, they have enough energy to overcome the forces holding them in a fixed lattice, and the ice melts into liquid water.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing melting and dissolving. Melting is a change of state from solid to liquid due to heat, while dissolving involves a solute and a solvent.
- 2Forgetting that the particles in a solid are still vibrating, even though they are in fixed positions.
- 3Not linking the energy required for a change of state to the strength of the intermolecular forces or bonds.
States of Matter & Bonding exam questions
Exam-style questions for States of Matter & Bonding with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for States of Matter & Bonding
Core concept
The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. The state of a substance at a particular temperature and pressure depends on the strength of the forces between its particles. The type of bondin…
Frequently asked questions
What is sublimation?
Sublimation is the direct change of state from a solid to a gas, without passing through the liquid state. An example is solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) turning into CO₂ gas.
How does pressure affect the state of matter?
Increasing the pressure on a substance forces its particles closer together. This can cause a gas to condense into a liquid, or a liquid to solidify.