other.
The Phases of Matter
In our everyday life, we encounter matter in
three different states, or phases (the word
comes from the Greek for “appearance” or
“manifestation”). These states are the solid
phase, the liquid phase, and the gas phase. The
temperatures at which a material melts —
changes from solid to liquid — and boils —
changes from liquid to gas — are determined
by the bonding forces among the atoms or
molecules. The stronger the bonds, the more
energy needed to overcome them, and so the
higher the temperature at which the material
shifts from one phase to another. During that
shift, all the heat added to the material goes
into completing the phase change. The
temperature of a solid-liquid mix will remain
fairly constant until all the solid has melted.
Similarly, the temperature of a pot of boiling