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Everything in the cosmos is made up of certain components, which scientists refer to as “matter.” Everything is classified as matter, including the food we consume, the air we breathe, stones, clouds, stars, plants, animals, water, and dust.
There are many things that we may see and feel all around us. We can see a book in front of us, for example. A book takes up some room. The volume of a book is the amount of space it takes up. We can feel the weight of the book when we pick it up. As a result, we can conclude that the book has some weight. We cannot see the air around us, but if we fill a balloon with air and carefully weigh it, we will discover that air not only occupies space (bounded by the balloon) but also has mass.
A book and air are both instances of matter. Wood, cloth, paper, ice, steel, water, and oil are all examples of matter. Furthermore, the fact that we cannot move an object from one location to another without using force demonstrates that matter offers resistance. To pick up a stone from the ground, we must use force.
What is the Matter?
Matter is defined as anything that fills space and has mass. Because they all occupy space and have mass, air and water, gold and silver, table and chair, milk and oil, and so on, are all various types of matter.
Matter makes up our universe. Any substance with mass, volume, and the ability to be perceived by the senses is defined as matter. Heat, electrical energy, light energy, sound energy, magnetism, vaccum, and shadow are not considered matter because they have no mass and take up no space.
Small constituent parts make up the matter. The smallest units of matter exist. Even with a high-powered microscope, we can’t see them.
Characteristics of Matter
i)Particles are the building blocks of all matter. These particles are separated by intermolecular gaps, attract one another with a force, and move in a random pattern.
ii) All material bodies have mass and so have weight.
iii) Space is occupied by all material bodies.
Kinetic Theory of Matter
Ans. The Kinetic Theory is a useful tool for connecting the ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ worlds. The postulates of the Kinetic Theory of Matter are listed below.
Matter’s Composition: Atoms, the tiniest particles of any element or molecule, make up all matter.
ii) Particles in Motion: Matter particles are in a constant state of motion. The rotation of individual atoms or groups of atoms, as well as the motion vibration of atoms or molecules against one another or pulling against a link, are all examples of atomic or molecular motion. The kinetic energy of the particles is due to their mobility. (Kinetic energy is the energy that particles have when they are moving.)
iii) Kinetic Energy Variation: As heat energy (thermal energy) is supplied to matter, the kinetic energy of particles increases, causing them to move more violently. If the stuff is cooled, or if heat energy is taken, the process reverses.
iv) Cohesive and Adhesive Forces: Matter particles are attracted to one another by a force. If the particles are of the same sort, this force is called cohesive force; if the particles are of different kinds, it is called adhesive force.
v) Interparticular Force of Attraction: The interparticle force of attraction exists between these particles. When the distance between them grows, this force reduces, and vice versa.
Distinctiveness of Matter
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Particles of a very tiny size create a matter.
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There is intermolecular space between these particles.
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Particles continuously move, due to its intrinsic kinetic energy.
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These particles are attracted to each other. The shared force of pull is dependent on the distance between the particles. In a solid-state of matter, strong intermolecular force prevails due to restricted space between the particles. In a liquid state, the intermolecular force is weak as, their ample space in between. In gases, the strength is feeble, as there are larger spaces between the particles.
Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of a substance from a higher concentration area to a lower concentration area. Any material, solid, liquid, or gas can diffuse. The medium in which the diffusion occurs can be of three physical states. The speed of diffusion depends on the character of interaction between the material and the medium. Diffusion is fast in gas; lighter gases diffuse faster than denser gases. Gases diffuse very quickly in the air, slowly in liquid and slowest in solid.
Factors that Affect the Rate of Diffusion
The rate of diffusion depends on the mass of the matter. Large particles move at a slower pace, resulting in a slower rate of diffusion. Lighter particles will diffuse at a faster rate. The movement of particles determines the speed of diffusion.
Particles move due to inbuilt kinetic energy. With the rise in temperature, the kinetic energy gets boosted. As the movement of particles increase, the process of diffusion quickens.
States of Matter
There are five states of matter found in-universe; solid, liquid, gas, plasma, Bose-Einstein condensate.
Solid, liquid, and gas are most commonly found, states of matter.
Solid
The solid-state matter has definite shape and volume as the particles are closely bonded. Another characteristic of this state of matter is they have high, boiling, melting point, with high density. When an external force is applied to it, the particles only vibrate about their present position. As there is little intermolecular space, the kinetic energy is feeble to dissipate the particles. Due to high density, they cannot be compressed and unable to flow.
Liquid
In this state of matter, the kinetic energy is more robust than that of solids, due to weak molecular force. The particles flow freely in this state of matter. Due to this feature, liquids have a definite volume but do not have a definite shape. When it is poured in a container, it will take the shape of it. Due to the lack of kinetic energy, they do not rupture the borderline of the liquid form. There is more room between the atoms so that they can be compressed and able to flow. This state of matter has low density and boiling and melting point.
Gases
Due to large intermolecular space and high kinetic energy, they have no fixed shape and volume. Their density is lower than a solid or liquid state. As the particles move very fast, the rate of diffusion is quick. As they diffuse, they exert force on the interior surface of the container. This force is termed as pressure. There are several units to calculate pressure. Some common units are atmosphere (atm), pounds per square inch (psi), Pascal (Pa) and, millimeters of mercury (mmHg). 1 atm = 14.7 psi = 760mm Hg = 101.3kPa (1,000 Pascal)
Plasma
Plasma is the fourth state of matter, which is very similar to the gaseous state. Identical to gases, this state of matter has no definite shape and volume and has a lower density than solid or liquid. Plasma is the state of matter, which has been stripped out of the electrons, leaving +ve charged nuclei, known as Ions. Neutral molecules made gases, where there are an equal number of –ve charged electrons and +ve charged protons. Plasma is made of charged gas, where atoms gain or lose electrons to become positively or negatively charged. This process is called ionization. Sun and stars are made of plasma, and it is found in those celestial bodies due to high temperature.
This gas is used in neon blubs and fluorescent tubes. When current passes through this inert gas, it ionized it. As the plasma glows, it emits light.
Bose-Einstein Condensate
The concept of this form of matter was stated by Indian scientist Satyandra Nath Bose in 1920. This theory was established by Albert Einstein in 1924. This form of matter BEC (Bose-Einstein condensate) is formed by freezing gas of extremely low density. BEC is a cluster of atoms cooled near to zero temperature. Absolute zero temperature occurs at 0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius, or -460 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not possible to achieve this temperature but likely to reach near to it by using laser cooling technology. At this temperature, the atoms stop moving, as they have no kinetic energy to do so. The atoms begin to bundle together and enter the same energy state. They become indistinguishable from a physical approach and start behaving like a single atom.
Atoms are infused with some kind of energy and fundamentals of the quantum mechanical state that energy cannot be random by nature. Due to this energy, electrons course in the elongated path, and converts to a photon of specific wavelength, when they change the orbit or energy level. When atoms come in contact within a billionth of a degree of absolute zero, some atoms begin to fall in the same energy level, becoming impossible to differentiate.
Two examples of materials containing Bose-Einstein condensate are superfluids and superconductors. Current flow through the superconductor, with virtual zero electrical resistance. Once the electricity starts, it flows indefinitely. A liquid in a superfluid flows forever.
Conclusion
Anything which possesses both mass and volume is matter. You and me, chair and table, mountain and sea all are matter. The matter is made of particles that are very tiny, only seen under a microscope and continuously moving. For instance, a drop of water consists of by and large1021 molecules. If you add a few drops of Dettol in a bucket of water, the whole pool will odor like Dettol. This simple experiment proves particles are of miniature size. There is a space between the particles which vary according to the state of the matter. These particles attract each other, more closely knitted, more is the attraction. Matter in our surrounding notes exhibits the properties of matter in a nutshell.