States of Matter and Physical Properties Quiz

Nico is sorting foods in his refrigerator for a class project. He is not certain how to classify strawberry jam. A spoonful of jam has a definite shape and volume, but only if he does not tip the spoon. Which classification best describes the jam?

• amorphous solid

• crystalline solid

• liquid with high viscosity

• liquid with low viscosity

Answer explanation

Strawberry jam has a definite shape when in a spoon but flows when tipped, indicating it behaves like a liquid. Its high viscosity allows it to maintain shape temporarily, making "liquid with high viscosity" the best classification.

A scout on a hike becomes lost. He does not have a compass, but he does have a small needle, a magnet, and some water. He magnetizes the needle and then gently places it on the surface of the water, where it points to the north. What property of the water makes it possible for the needle to lie on the surface of the water?

• viscosity

• definite volume

• surface tension

• boiling point

Answer explanation

The needle floats on the water due to surface tension, which allows it to remain on the surface without sinking. This property of water creates a 'skin' effect that supports the lightweight needle.

Ava is conducting an experiment to boil water on Venus, where the atmospheric pressure is over 90 times greater than on Earth. Which statement is true about boiling water in Ava's experiment on Venus?

• Water will boil at a higher temperature on Venus than on Earth.

• Water will boil at a lower temperature on Venus than on Earth.

• The temperature of water will decrease as it boils.

• The temperature of water will increase as it boils.

Answer explanation

On Venus, the atmospheric pressure is much higher than on Earth, which raises the boiling point of water. Therefore, water will boil at a higher temperature on Venus than on Earth.

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Kai is conducting an experiment to observe how long it takes for all of the liquid acetone to become a gas. Based on the graph, how many minutes did it take for all of the liquid acetone to become a gas?

• 10

• 30

• 40

• 56

Answer explanation

The graph indicates that it took 40 minutes for all of the liquid acetone to evaporate into gas, as shown by the point where the line reaches the maximum gas level.

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Aria is heating a beaker of liquid acetone and records the temperature over time, creating a graph like the one shown. The behavior of acetone particles during the diagonal and horizontal portions of the graph can be described as:

• Particles move faster and spread apart during diagonal portions; particles change phase during horizontal portions.

• Particles remain stationary during diagonal portions; particles vibrate rapidly during horizontal portions.

• Particles condense during diagonal portions; particles freeze during horizontal portions.

• Particles slow down during diagonal portions; particles evaporate during horizontal portions.

Answer explanation

During the diagonal portions of the graph, the temperature increases, causing acetone particles to move faster and spread apart. In the horizontal portions, the temperature remains constant as the particles change phase, typically from liquid to gas.

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Min was writing about changes in the state of matter for a research paper. Which of these changes might she include as examples of sublimation?

• Wet clothing is hung outside on a day when the temperature is above the freezing point of water. The clothes remain wet after several hours.

• An ice cube melts on the floor, then it evaporates.

• Bromine is a reddish-brown, liquid element. In a closed container, a reddish-brown gas exists above the surface of the bromine.

• Dry ice changes directly to carbon dioxide gas.

Answer explanation

Sublimation is the process where a solid changes directly to a gas without becoming a liquid. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, sublimates directly to carbon dioxide gas, making it the correct example.

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Would you feel like a superhero if you could melt metal just by holding it? The element gallium is a solid at room temperature, but it will reach its melting point and melt if you hold it in your hand for a moment. If you pour the liquid gallium into a container at room temperature, it will become solid again. This unusual behavior demonstrates that the solid and liquid phases are coexisting. How do the melting point and the freezing point of gallium compare to each other?

• The freezing point of gallium is higher than its melting point.

• The freezing point of gallium is lower than its melting point.

• The freezing point of gallium equals its melting point.

• Both the freezing point and the melting point of gallium vary.

Answer explanation

The melting point and freezing point of gallium are the same, which is why it can melt in your hand and solidify when cooled. Thus, the correct choice is that the freezing point of gallium equals its melting point.

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Jackson is comparing an ice cube and a cup of water. Which of the following describes a difference between the ice cube (solid) and the water (liquid)?

• Particles in a solid cannot vibrate, but particles in a liquid can.

• Particles in a solid can only vibrate in place, but particles in a liquid can move around each other.

• All solids melt at a distinct temperature, but liquids melt at varying temperatures.

• Solids melt at varying temperatures, but all liquids melt at a distinct temperature.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that particles in a solid, like ice, can only vibrate in place, while in a liquid, like water, particles can move around each other freely, demonstrating the key difference in their states.

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Emma is working in a laboratory and observes both a piece of silver and a piece of glass as they are heated from solid to liquid. Describe one similarity and one difference in what occurs when silver and glass change from a solid to a liquid.

• Both silver and glass melt at a specific temperature; the difference is that silver melts gradually while glass melts sharply.

• Both silver and glass change from solid to liquid; the difference is that silver melts at a specific temperature, while glass softens over a range of temperatures.

• Both silver and glass remain solid when heated; the difference is that glass becomes crystalline.

• Both silver and glass evaporate when heated; the difference is that silver evaporates faster.

Answer explanation

Both silver and glass change from solid to liquid when heated. However, silver has a specific melting point, while glass transitions over a range of temperatures, making this the key difference between their melting behaviors.

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Drag and drop to label the phase change diagram with the correct vocab words:

a

b

c

d

Condensation

Evaporation

Freezing

Melting

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