Year 10 - Science
State changes: evaporation and sublimation
States of matter
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the particle model, states of matter, and changes between them, distinguishing physical from chemical changes. It explains the concept of purity in scientific terms, using melting point data to identify pure and impure substances, and explores the limitations of the particle model.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the processes of sublimation, deposition, and evaporation, and discuss the energy changes involved in these state changes.
Key Notes
- Sublimation is the change from solid to gas; deposition is the change from gas to solid, both bypass the liquid state.
- Sublimation and deposition occur at specific conditions of temperature and pressure.
- Energy changes in sublimation/deposition are similar to melting/freezing but happen directly between solid and gas.
- Evaporation is when a liquid changes to gas at the surface as particles gain enough energy to overcome forces.
Vocabulary To Learn
- evaporation: when a particle of a substance in the liquid state at the surface, has enough energy to change to the gas state and mix with air.
- sublimation: a change of state of a substance from a solid directly to a gas; e.g. iodine.
- deposition: when a substance changes from the gas state to the solid state without being in the liquid state.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils think that substances need to be at their boiling point temperature to evaporate.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Sublimation is the change from solid to gas; deposition is the change from gas to solid, both bypass the liquid state. Sublimation and deposition occur at specific conditions of temperature and pressure.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'evaporation'
when a particle of a substance in the liquid state at the surface, has enough energy to change to the gas state and mix with air. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils think that substances need to be at their boiling point temperature to evaporate. Correction: Use plenty of real life examples of liquids evaporating in situations where pupils know that the liquid is not above its boiling point but still evaporates.
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