can anyone explain, in terms of the arragement of particals, Why a solid has a fixed shape and a fixed voume? and can anyone find a diagram, which represents the diffusion of 2 gases?
2006-12-07 09:37:36 · 5 answers · asked by kiedokl 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
this is really due to how the amount of energy within the chemical bonds of the molecule affects it state. When you heat ice the thermal energy is absorbed by the bonds of the water molecules causing them to vibrate, as a result, the nuclei are able to move around in relation to each other in space. more energy = more movement. Less energy = no relative movement so the atoms stay in a fixed position.
This principal of energy being absorbed by molecular bonds is very important. the type of energy doesn't have to be heat. in the case of some analytical techniques the energy added to molecules is light (which is electromagnetic radiation).
In police stations across the land they have something called an intoxitometer which is used to measure the amount alcohol in breath. It works by shining infra red light through the droplets of breath. The bonds in the alcohol absorb infra red light causing them to stretch and bend. A detector can show how much light was absorbed and at which frequency of IR light.
It is actually called an infra-red spectrophototometer. And is a powerfull analytical tool.
Phew! sorry i went off on one there.
2006-12-09 06:10:30 · answer #1 · answered by gav b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THis is so as there are strong forces of attraction between the solid particles and can only vibrate and rotate about it's fixed position and the particles are arranged in a definite and orderly pattern. Thus a solid has afixed shape and a fixed volume
2006-12-07 21:30:51 · answer #2 · answered by pretty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solid particals are tightly packed together. They can't be pushed together, they are so tightly packed, they can't move. Liquid particles are further apart, they have space to move and so liquid flows and takes the shape of the container it is in. Gas particles can be even further apart and have the energy to move further. The gas particles can even be pushed together and pulled apart. Imagine pushing against the side of a balloon. A simplistic answer, this web site gives more information
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revisewise/science/materials/08_act.shtml
2006-12-07 11:56:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solid particles exist at a lower temperature than liquids and gases, and hence its particles have a lower energy level. Due to this, they are packed more closely together than liquids and gases.
This results in its fixed shape and volume.
2006-12-07 14:58:22 · answer #4 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the molecules i a solid are tightly packed and cannot move.
2006-12-08 23:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by puzzled 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋