8Ib – Changing State
Changes of state
Many substances can exist as solids, liquids or gases, which are all different states of matter.
By heating or cooling a substance, its state can be changed.
There are four main changes of state:
melting - the process of a solid turning into a liquid
freezing - the process of a liquid turning into a solid
evaporating - the process of a liquid turning into a gas
condensing - the process of a gas turning into a liquid
Heating curves
A heating curve can be produced by heating a substance at a constant rate and measuring
its temperature. The diagram shows a heating curve for water.
Points A to BThe sloped section at the start of the line, between A and B, shows that the
water is initially a solid (ice) at -40 °C. As the solid ice is heated, the temperature increases
until it reaches its melting point of 0 °C.
Points B to C
Once the ice reaches its melting point the line becomes horizontal (between B and C),
showing that the temperature does not increase during melting. Instead, the energy supplied
during melting enables the particles to overcome the strong forces holding them together,
allowing them to move from their fixed positions.
Points C to D
When the melting process has finished, all the ice has become liquid water. After this, the
energy transferred continues to increase the temperature of the water – shown by the second
sloped section of the line, between C and D.
Points D to E
The temperature of the liquid water continues to increase as heat is added, until it reaches its
boiling point of 100 °C. Again, the line becomes horizontal (between D and E), showing that
the temperature does not increase during boiling. The energy supplied during boiling enables
the particles to overcome the forces holding them together, allowing them to escape
completely from the liquid. When the boiling process has finished, all the water has become
steam.
Points E to F Continuing to heat the steam will again increase the temperature – shown by
the final sloped section of the line, between E and F.