The Particle Model (OCR Gateway GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science)

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States of Matter

  • The three states of matter are solids, liquids and gases
  • A substance can usually exist in all three states, dependent on temperature (and pressure)
  • State changes occur at the melting point (solid to liquid, liquid to solid) and at the boiling point (liquid to gas and gas to liquid)
    • Melting and freezing occur at the melting point
    • Boiling and condensing take place at the boiling point
    • Evaporation is also a change of state and occurs at any temperature; the maximum rate of evaporation occurs at the boiling point 

  • Individual atoms themselves do not share the same properties as bulk matter
  • The three states of matter can be represented by a simple model
    • In this model, the particles are represented by small solid spheres

Summary of the Properties of Solids, Liquids and Gases

The arrangement of particles in solids, liquids and gases, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Physical & Chemical Changes

  • A physical change in a substance is a change that does not involve a change in the identity of the substance
  • A chemical change or chemical reaction is a change in which one or more substances are converted into different substances
  • The substances that react in a chemical change are called the reactants
  • The substances that are formed by the chemical change are called the products
  • A physical change involves changes in the forces between the particles of the substances, but the particles themselves remain the same, as do the chemical properties of the substance
  • Physical changes are relatively easy to reverse as no new substance is formed during interconversions of state
  • The interconversions have specific terms to describe them:

A Summary of State Changes 

State Changes Table, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.