Classroom Resources: States of Matter
1 – 13 of 13 Classroom Resources
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Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Heat, Freezing Point Depression | Middle School, High School
Lab: Sweet, Salty and Cold as Ice
In this lab, students conduct a micro-scale investigation to explore how various solutes affect the freezing point of water. Because of the small volume of liquid used, results are visible within minutes. Students observe what happens to the liquids as they are cooled and use their observations to infer what is going on at the particle level. They will use the results to explain the familiar phenomena of why we salt our roads and sidewalks in the winter and why freshwater lakes and ponds freeze over more easily than saltwater oceans in the winter.
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Phase Changes, Molecular Motion | Middle School
Activity: Atoms in Motion
In this activity, students will explore how particles that make up matter are in constant motion. The students will use an online PhET simulation to compare the ways that atoms and molecules move in samples of solids, liquids, and gases. This activity will help students improve their understanding of the particle level.
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Phase Changes, Molecular Motion | Middle School, High School
Simulation: States of Matter and Phase Changes
In this simulation, students will participate in a 10 question quiz. Some questions will challenge students to analyze data to identify the correct state of matter for a specific sample, and then connect the chosen state with an animated particle diagram. In addition, students will examine the behavior of particles in an animated sample as they undergo a phase change, and must correctly identify the change that occurs.
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Phase Changes, Molecular Motion | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: States of Matter and Phase Changes
In this simulation, students will participate in a 10 question quiz. Some questions will challenge students to analyze data to identify the correct state of matter for a specific sample, and then connect the chosen state with an animated particle diagram. In addition, students will examine the behavior of particles in an animated sample as they undergo a phase change, and must correctly identify the change that occurs.
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Physical Properties, Molecular Motion | Middle School, High School
Activity: Categorizing States of Matter
In this activity students will analyze both written statements and images that describe the properties of a solid, liquid or gas. Students will determine which state of matter the description best describes and categorize it accordingly.
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Observations, Molecular Motion, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature | Middle School, High School
Activity: What Makes Something Feel Warm
In this lesson students actively engage in thinking about energy issues in chemistry and the nature of energy (thermal) transfer. The idea that temperature is a measure of heat content will be challenged, and students will be given the opportunity to collect data that will allow them to clearly see that different materials transfer energy at different rates.
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Observations, Inferences, Molecular Motion, Temperature | Middle School, High School
Demonstration: What is Temperature?
In this demonstration, students will observe food dye mixing with water at different temperatures.
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Melting Point, Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Intermolecular Forces, Heating Curve, Boiling Point, Heat of Vaporization , Heat of Fusion | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Heating Curve of Water
In this simulation, students will investigate qualitatively and quantitatively what happens as water changes states.
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Temperature, Gas Laws, Pressure, Molecular Motion, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Intermolecular Forces, Volume | Middle School, High School
Lab: Gas Pressure
In this lab, students will understand what causes pressure in a container and the variables that affect pressure (volume, temperature, number of moles) by mimicking molecular motion of gases.
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Temperature, Gas Laws, Pressure, Molecular Motion, Kinetic Molecular Theory, SI Units, Volume | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Gas Law Variables
In this simulation, students investigate variables of a gas. From the computer models, they can see how pressure, temperature, and volume effect gas behavior.
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Molecular Motion, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Molecular Motion
In this simulation, students will have the opportunity to explore on the molecular level how particles move in three states of matter. They will compare two different substances.
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Melting Point, Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Heat, Temperature, Heating Curve, Graphing | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: Modeling the Melting of Ice
In this lesson, students will create a particulate model of matter that explains energy changes and transfer during a phase change.
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Density, Molecular Motion | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Density Simulation
In this simulation, students will investigate the effect of changing variables on both the volume and the density of a solid, a liquid and a gas sample. Students will analyze the different states of matter at the particle level as well as quantitatively. This lesson accompanies the simulation from the September 2015 issue of Chemistry Solutions.