States of matter
Science, Chemistry. Usually met in years 7 to 9.
Describe solids, liquids and gases using particles, and name the changes of state.
What you practise
- Particle arrangement and movement
- Melting, freezing, boiling, condensing and evaporating
- Explaining compression and heating with particles
Builds from naming changes to explaining them with particle ideas. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.
Sample questions
Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.
Sample question, level 2 of 5
What is the name for a liquid turning into a solid?
- boiling
- melting
- freezing
- evaporating
- subliming
Show the answer and method
Answer: C, freezing
The method: Freezing is a liquid turning into a solid.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A, boiling: Boiling is a liquid turning into a gas throughout the liquid at its boiling point.
- B, melting: Melting is a solid turning into a liquid.
- D, evaporating: Evaporating is a liquid turning into a gas from its surface, at any temperature.
- E, subliming: Subliming is a solid turning straight into a gas without becoming a liquid.
Sample question, level 4 of 5
Which of these has a fixed shape and a fixed volume?
- a gas
- a liquid
- all three states
- a solid
- solids and liquids
Show the answer and method
Answer: D, a solid
The method: The answer is: a solid
Why the other options are wrong:
- A, a gas: A gas has neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.
- B, a liquid: A liquid has a fixed volume but takes the shape of its container.
- C, all three states: Liquids and gases do not have a fixed shape.
- E, solids and liquids: A liquid does not have a fixed shape.
See where this fits: GCSE science with AQA and Key Stage 3.
Related topics: Atoms, Formula mass, Moles.
