Particulate Nature of Matter — Question 6

As ice melts into water and then vaporizes into steam, the arrangement of water particles changes significantly. Initially, in ice (a solid), water molecules are tightly packed in a fixed, crystalline structure with limited movement (vibrations). As ice melts, the particles gain kinetic energy, breaking free from their fixed positions and becoming able to slide past each other, forming liquid water. Further heating increases the kinetic energy, causing the particles to move more rapidly and spread out, eventually breaking free from the liquid and becoming water vapour, a gas with particles moving randomly and freely. Ice (Solid) Arrangement: Water molecules are tightly packed in a regular, crystalline structure. Movement: Molecules vibrate in fixed positions. Liquid Water Arrangement: Molecules are closer together than in a gas, but not in a regular structure. They can move around and slide past each other. Movement: Molecules can move around and slide past each other. Water Vapor (Gas) Arrangement: Molecules are far apart and move randomly and freely in all directions. Movement: Molecules move rapidly and randomly, colliding with each other and the container walls.