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Essay on States of Matter and How Matter Changes

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Matter is defined as anything that occupies space and can be perceived by one or more senses; a physical body, a physical substance, or the universe as a whole. There are four distinct states of matter: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. There are other states of matter such as Bose-Einstein condensates and neutron degenerate matter, but those states can only be found under extreme conditions.
These phases can go from one to another when affected by certain things, which is known as phase changes. To switch from a solid to a liquid, the solid must melt. On the other hand, to switch from a liquid to a solid, freezing must occur. Furthermore, to switch from a liquid to a gas, a process known as evaporation must take place. In contrast, to …show more content…

Solids have a definite volume and definite shape. The reason solids have a definite volume and shape is due to how closely packed the particles are together. The forces between the particles are so strong that do not allow the particles to move freely but to vibrate. Examples of solids are wood, bricks, and baseballs ("States of Matter"). One type of solid is crystalline solid. In a crystalline solid, the particles are in a repeating pattern. These patterns are known as crystal lattice structures. There are many types of lattice structures which include: cubic, hexagonal, triclinic, monoclinic, trigonal, orthorhombic, and tetragonal. An example of a crystalline solid is carbon. These solids have characteristics of geometrical shapes ("Properties of Matter").
Another type of solid is an amorphous solid. These solids are formed when a liquid is suddenly cooled. An amorphous solid has no regular crystal structure but does have definite volume and shape. Amorphous solids are classified as viscous, or slowly flowing, liquids. These solids do not have sharp melting points. Also, amorphous solids have a wide range of melting points. Examples of amorphous solids are butter, plastic, rubber, and coal ("States of Matter").
Many outside forces may bend a solid out of its original shape. The ability of a solid to return to its original form after

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