Characteristics of particles of matter

Characteristics of particles of matter:

1.      Very small in size.

2.      Have spaces between them

3.      Particles are constantly moving

4.      Particles attract each other

The characteristics of particles can be discussed by experiment.

Particle of matter are very small: we take a beaker full of water and add small amount of ink to it. Ink diffuse in water and spreads uniformly. When more water is added the colour dilutes, this is because few drop of ink is composed of millions of small particles which keep on spreading in large amount of water. 

Particles have space between them: we take a beaker full of water and add small amount of ink to it. Ink spreads uniformly between the spaces present between the particles of water.

Particles are constantly moving: we take a beaker full of water and add small amount of ink to it. Ink spreads uniformly after some time even when we leave it undisturbed, this happens because the particles of matter are constantly moving. The same can be observed with essence sticks, as the gases spread from one corner of room to the whole space.

Particle of matter attract each other: the force of attraction between the particles of same matter is called cohesion. This cohesion is different for different material. Like for liquid and gases they are less but for solid they are large. That is why it is difficult to break apart a solid but it is easier of liquids. We can move our hand through liquid and gases but not through solid. We cannot break iron but ban easily break chalk as cohesive force between the particles of iron is much larger than that of chalk.

  

Matter is made of particles

Every matter is made up of very small particles. These tiny particles are extremely small which cannot be seen even with high power microscope. These small particles that form other objects are called atoms and molecules.

How to prove that matter is made up of small particles.

We can easily observe that matter is composed of small particles by mixing two different things and noticing the two dissolve in each other.

1.      Dissolving solid in liquid

2.      Dissolving liquid in liquid

3.      Mixing two gases

Dissolving solid in liquid: To discuss this we will take

 Potassium permanganate, a purple coloured solid crystalline substance and water, a colourless liquid. When potassium permanganate is added to beaker full of water and leave it as it is, slowly the colour of water will change to purple, this is because the molecules of potassium permanganate separate from one another and diffuse in water. Here diffusion means that the molecules of potassium permanganate spread in water to make a uniform solution.

Dissolving liquid in liquid: To discuss this we will take

 Blue coloured ink and water. When ink is added to beaker full of water and leave it as it is, slowly the colour of water will change to blue, and this is because the molecules of ink diffuse in water. This means that ink and water both are made of small particles.

Mixing two gases: let’s take 2 test tube

One with colourless gas and other with bromine vapour, a red-brown coloured gas when the two test tubes are joined after some time the content of both gases mix with each other. Content of both tubes are made of small particles that diffuse in each other

This diffusion phenomenon gives us two conclusions:

1.      Matter is made of two particles.

2.      These particles have kinetic energy and they are constantly moving.