Particle model – a short recap
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Rule
- Particle model
In the particle model every substance consists of very small particles, which you imagine as balls.
| State | Arrangement of the particles | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| solid | close together, in order | vibrate in place |
| liquid | close together, not in order | change places |
| gaseous | far apart | move freely through the space |
When a substance gets warmer, its particles move faster. With enough heat they break out of their fixed order: the substance melts. With even more heat they fly apart: the substance boils.
Example
Water is heated
Ice is solid. The water particles sit close together. At 0 °C it melts, then they are mobile and the water flows. At 100 °C it boils: the particles fly apart and it is water vapour.