Describe the effect of increasing temperature on the kinetic energy of particles in a solid, liquid and gas, and explain how this influences the state of matter.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- State that the kinetic energy of particles increases as temperature rises.
- Explain that in a solid the particles vibrate around fixed positions, in a liquid they move more freely but remain close, and in a gas they move rapidly and are widely spaced.
- State that as temperature rises, the increased kinetic energy can cause a solid to melt, a liquid to evaporate, or a gas to expand.
- Explain that the change in state is due to the particles overcoming the forces holding them together, leading to a change in density and volume.
Related
- All Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Describe" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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