Question

Explain why adding energy or removing energy from matter can cause it to change phase?

Answer 1

@Serenity74 Lol idk Girl But Im Taking Notes And Dont Know This Part x'D

Answer 2

You have to think about it on an atomic level. Let's go over some basics:

Gases have particles that are very spaced out and moving around very quickly. It can be said that gases have higher energy than liquids or solids because of the particles' motion. Liquids are more solidified and bonded stronger than gases, but they still move around in a flexible manner. They can take the shape of any container just like gases but they have less energy than gases. In solids, the atoms are even more packed together and may or may not be formed by the container that surrounds them. Although, we see solids as completely still and unmoved, they are actually vibrating because they always contain energy.

Now let's look at water. If we give it energy, let's say in the form of heat, what happens? It changes to a gas. The particles become excited and move around faster and faster (process of evaporation). But if we were to put the water in the freezer, there's less energy to break the bonds between molecules. This means that our water begins to solidify into ice.