States of Matter: Gas All Around Us

What You'll Learn

When matter changes state, its particles move differently. Heating a solid makes particles vibrate faster until they break free and become a liquid, then a gas.

Key Words

proton
neutron
electron

Materials Needed

salt
sugar
vinegar

Safety First

Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.
Do not taste any materials.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the introduction and identify the main idea of this lesson.

Step 2 — Do

Create a density column: carefully layer honey, dish soap, water, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol in a tall glass. Drop small objects in to test where they float.

Step 3 — Observe

Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.

Step 4 — Record

Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What happens to particle motion when matter is heated?