Answer key

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Last edited 26 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 01. Matter

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Long Answers - Answer Key

Explain the concept of diffusion and how temperature affects its rate, providing examples from different states of matter.

Diffusion is the process where a substance spreads out and mixes with another due to the continuous random motion of its particles. It occurs in all states of matter, though it’s extremely slow in solids due to tightly packed molecules. In liquids and gases, diffusion happens easily because their particles have more intermolecular space, allowing for freer movement. The rate of diffusion is directly influenced by temperature; higher temperatures provide particles with more kinetic energy, causing them to move faster and thus increasing the rate of diffusion. For instance, the smell of food spreading through the air (gas into gas) or oxygen dissolving in water (gas into liquid) are common examples.

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Describe what matter is and explain its two fundamental properties, using an example to illustrate how mass and volume can vary.

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Its two fundamental properties are that it possesses mass, which is the amount of substance it contains, and it occupies volume, meaning it takes up a certain amount of space. For instance, an iron ball has more mass than a ball of cotton, even though the cotton ball might occupy a larger volume. This demonstrates that an object with more matter (mass) can sometimes take up less space than another object with less mass.

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Discuss the distinguishing features of gases, particularly concerning their molecular arrangement, forces, and behavior regarding shape and volume.

Gases are characterized by molecules that are very loosely arranged with large intermolecular spaces between them. The intermolecular forces of attraction in gases are negligible, meaning there’s almost no force holding the molecules together. This allows gas molecules to move freely and rapidly in all directions. Consequently, gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume, expanding to fill the entire space of any closed container they are in, and are easily compressible.

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Describe the key properties of solids, including their molecular arrangement, intermolecular space, and force of attraction.

Solids are characterized by their molecules being very closely packed together, resulting in very little intermolecular space. Consequently, the intermolecular forces of attraction between these molecules are extremely strong, holding them in fixed positions. This strong attraction gives solids a definite shape and volume, making them difficult to compress and preventing them from flowing.

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Explain the characteristics of liquids, focusing on their molecular spacing, intermolecular forces, and how these affect their shape and volume.

Liquids have molecules that are less closely packed than solids, which means they have more intermolecular space. This increased spacing leads to weaker intermolecular forces of attraction compared to solids, allowing the molecules to slide past one another. As a result, liquids possess a fixed volume but lack a fixed shape, instead taking on the shape of any container they are poured into. They can flow easily and are only compressible to a small extent.

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