The changes to which the subject can be exposed are those that affect and transform their characteristics. They can be induced or generated by natural changes in the environment where it is found.
Matter is known as everything that occupies a space and has a certain amount of energy. It could be said that everything in our universe is matter, presented in different forms and phases.
When subjected to different temperatures, pressures or situations, it changes its properties.
These changes may be physical, or they may be in their chemical composition, depending on the conditions to which they are exposed.
Physical changes
They are those under which the substance does not undergo changes in its fundamental properties, and can be caused by agents such as pressure or heat.
State changes
The main states of matter are:
-Solid state: in this state, the molecules are very close together and do not interact with each other, this happens when the force of attraction between them is stronger than the force that separates them.
-Liquid state: by increasing the energy of a system, which is usually heat, the molecules of matter begin to move and collide with each other. These do not stay as close together as the solid state, but they are not as separate either.
- Gaseous State: this state is achieved when the energy of the system breaks all the molecular junctions and these move freely apart from each other and the shocks occur only occasionally.
For these transformations to occur, it is necessary to perform a series of processes in which the material is subjected to alterations in its shape, volume or density, these can be classified into the following types:
-Fusion: matter passes from the solid state to the liquid state.
-Vaporization: is the process that is carried out heating a liquid to transform it into gas. When gas bubbles begin to form inside the liquid, it is said to have reached its boiling point. This point will also depend on each substance.
- Reverse sublimation or crystallization: change of matter where it is passed directly from gaseous state to solid state, without going through the liquid state.
Sublimation l as the reverse sublimation, in this process is passed directly from the solid state to the gaseous state.
-Condensation: e s the process against vaporization, it is sought to change the gaseous state of matter to liquid. It is called dew point at the temperature where the change is achieved.
-Solidification: s e performs by means of the cold to get the molecules to contract. This process makes the matter from liquid state to solid state.
-Contraction: this process occurs when, due to the effects of temperature decrease, matter tends to reduce its dimensions.
- Dilated n: it is the process opposite to the contraction, that is to say, the volume of the matter increases by means of the increase of the temperature.
-Fragmentation: the fragmentation originates due to the division into two or more parts of a solid state body.
Chemical Changes
The chemical changes are those alterations at the structural or molecular level that are generated in the matter due to diverse reactions, which generally are classified in:
-Oxidation: this type of chemical reaction occurs when by the effects of oxygen on matter a new substance is obtained.
-Combustion: combustion refers to the transformation of matter regardless of the state it is in, where new substances are created and energy is released in the form of light and heat.
-Fermentation: is a natural process characterized by the incomplete oxidation in certain compounds thanks to the action of microorganisms and bacteria.
-Putrefaction: occurs due to the decomposition of matter caused by anaerobic microorganisms.
References
- "Changing States of Matter"at Chem4Kinds. Recovered on September 06, 2017 from Chem4Kids: chem4kids.com.
- Bagley, M."Matter: Definition & the Five States of Matter"(April, 2016) in Live Science. Retrieved on September 06, 2017 from Live Science: livescience.com.
- The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Solid, State of matter"in Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 07 September, 2017 by Encyclopædia Britannica: britannica.com.
- Helmestine, A."States of Matter"(February, 2017) in Thought. Retrieved on September 7, 2017 from Thought: thoughtco.com.
"Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter"at Boundless. Retrieved at 10 September, 2017 from Boundless: boundless.com.