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2 THE THREE STATES OF WATER

Water is usually a liquid, but at different temperatures it can also be a solid or a gas.

Ice. When water is cooled to 0 oC, it

freezes and becomes ice. This is what bottle of cold
happens when we put water into the water
freezing compartment of a refrigerator.

Ice is water in its solid state. If the

temperature rises above 0oC, the ice
melts to form liquid water again. The
temperature 0oC is called the melting
point of ice. It is also called the
freezing point of water.
steam
Ice is common in places where it is condensing
very cold. Even the rain may freeze
and fall as snow! In high mountains
there are often rivers of ice called
glaciers. In the Arctic and Antarctic,
the sea is often covered with ice.
Melting ice Boiling water
Water vapour. When water is heated to 100oC, it boils and changes to steam. This is what
happens when water is boiled on a fire or a cooking stove. The temperature 100 oC is called the
boiling point of water.

Steam is water in its gas state. When a gas is formed from a liquid, we often call the gas a
vapour. Steam is the vapour formed when we boil water. If the temperature falls below 100 oC,
most of the steam condenses to form liquid water again. To observe condensation, hold any cold
surface in the steam rising from a pan.

You have observed that puddles of rainwater on the road soon disappear when the sun comes
out. The water in the puddles changes into water vapour and goes up into the air. We say the
water evaporates. Evaporation can occur at any temperature. Water is always evaporating from
the surface of seas, lakes and rivers, so there is always water vapour in the air.

1. THE THREE STATES OF MATTER: Solid, liquid and gas are called the three states of matter.
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HEATING
melting evaporation or boiling
SOLID LIQUID VAPOUR (GAS)
freezing condensation

COOLING

The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it melts.

The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which it boils.

What is formed when (i) ice melts, (ii) water . There is always water vapour in the air. What do
evaporates, and (iii) steam condenses? And what is you think happens to this vapour when the air is
(iv) a vapour? suddenly cooled?

2. Which has the higher melting point, ice or a wax

candle?

3. What is the difference between evaporation and

boiling?

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