State of matter

A form in which matter exists, characterized by its physical properties and the behavior and arrangement of its particles.

Particle model of matter: A model that explains matter’s properties through the motion and interactions of tiny particles. It provides the microscopic picture used to distinguish states.
Melting: The transition from a solid to a liquid as a substance absorbs energy. It shows how a solid loses its fixed structure while retaining cohesion.
Solid: A state of matter with a definite shape and volume and particles constrained around positions. Its rigidity is one familiar pattern of particle organization.
Phase of matter: A homogeneous region of a material with uniform physical and chemical properties. The term often overlaps with state, but emphasizes uniform regions and phase boundaries.
Refrigeration: The process of removing heat from an enclosed space or substance to lower its temperature. It exploits evaporation and condensation to move heat through a cycle.
Thermal energy: Energy associated with the random motion and microscopic interactions of particles. Changes in thermal energy can alter particle motion and the state of matter.
Freezing: The transition from a liquid to a solid as a substance loses energy. It demonstrates how particle mobility gives way to an ordered or rigid structure.
Liquid: A state of matter with a definite volume that flows and takes the shape of its container. It combines close particle packing with the ability to flow.
Chemical state: A description of a substance’s chemical composition or oxidation condition rather than its physical phase. It separates physical form from changes in chemical identity or bonding.
Distillation: A separation process that vaporizes a liquid mixture and condenses its components selectively. It uses differences in vaporization behavior to separate substances.

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