Chem Blog Week 14

This week, we learned more about energy, particle arrangement and particle motion.

I also learned about Heat of Vaporization and Heat of Fusion. Heat of Vaporization is the amount of energy that is required to convert a unit mass of a liquid into the vapor without a change in temperature. Heat of Vaporization occurs in state changes of liquid to gas and vice versa: (Vaporization) or (Condensation). Heat of Fusion is the amount of energy that is required to convert a unit mass of a solid into the liquid without a change in temperature. Heat of Fusion occurs in state changes of solid to liquid and vice versa: (Melting) or (Freezing).

We spoke more about solid, liquid and gas. We used water the most as an example. The states of water are very different not only because of their physical states but because of the attraction of their particles. Solid has stronger attraction between particles because the particles in a solid have the least amount of energy so the particles are closer together. It’s like a spring being pulled apart. It takes more energy to hold on to the ends of the spring when the spring is stretched. The same thing applies with the movement of particles. In a solid,  particles have strong attractions and move the least because there isn't enough energy to change the arrangement of particles. In a gas, the particles barely bump into each because they are farthest apart. The particles in a gas have the most amount of energy because it takes a higher amount of energy to separate the particles and make them move faster.

When physical states of substances change, this is because the attractions between the particles must be overcome in a solid to change to a liquid or gas (Eph). Just because the arrangement of particles changes, it doesn't mean that the motion of particles has changed. They could still move at the same rate (Eth). This is what Mr. Abud was saying about water  on the T-shirt if it evaporated. The state of the water changed from liquid to gas, but the temperature of the water couldn't have change because if it were at the boiling point (100ºC), it would be pretty noticeable to the person wearing the shirt! While the Eth did not increase the Eph did because the water turned from a liquid to a gas.

Therefore, a solid has the most orderly arrangement of particles and the lowest amount of energy as well as motion of particles. The liquid has the second most fluid arrangement of particles, meaning they move freely about but not as rapidly as gas particles. Thus, liquid is more structured than a gas and has less energy. Gas has the most amount of energy with the particles being the farthest apart with the least attraction. Thus, the distance between the particles and the attraction between them has an inverse relationship much like volume and density.

This week was pretty great because I got all 4’s and one 3 on my assessment! I was so excited and proud of myself and I was able to tutor some people this week for the reassessment next week. I’m glad that Christmas break is almost here so I can somewhat relax but I don’t think that will happen…