5 - pogil kinetic molecular - Honors Chemistry Coursework - Free Printable

Let’s work through the problem step by step.

We are being asked to fill in Table 1: “Characteristics of the Phases of Matter” — comparing SOLID, LIQUID, and GAS across four categories:

1. SPACING AND RELATIVE DENSITY
2. MOVEMENT & RELATIVE KINETIC ENERGY
3. FILLING A CONTAINER (VOLUME)
4. “SHAPE” AND MASS AND MISC

We’ll use Model 1 (the diagram showing particles in gas, liquid, and crystalline solid) and basic knowledge of states of matter.

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Step 1: SPACING AND RELATIVE DENSITY

- Solid: Particles are packed tightly together in a regular pattern. Very little space between them → high density.
- Liquid: Particles are close but not in a fixed pattern. Slightly more space than solid → slightly lower density than solid (usually).
- Gas: Particles are far apart with lots of empty space → very low density.

→ So:
- Solid: Tightly spaced, highest density
- Liquid: Close but not tight, medium density
- Gas: Far apart, lowest density

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Step 2: MOVEMENT & RELATIVE KINETIC ENERGY

Kinetic energy = energy of motion. More movement = higher kinetic energy.

- Solid: Particles vibrate in place. Very little movement → lowest kinetic energy.
- Liquid: Particles slide past each other. More movement than solid → medium kinetic energy.
- Gas: Particles zoom around freely and quickly. Most movement → highest kinetic energy.

→ So:
- Solid: Vibrating in place, lowest KE
- Liquid: Sliding/moving past neighbors, medium KE
- Gas: Fast, random motion, highest KE

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Step 3: FILLING A CONTAINER (VOLUME)

This asks: Does the substance expand to fill the container? What volume does it take?

- Solid: Keeps its own shape and volume. Does NOT fill the container — just sits at the bottom.
- Liquid: Takes the shape of the container up to its own volume. Doesn’t expand to fill the whole container — forms a flat surface.
- Gas: Expands to fill the entire container — takes both the shape AND volume of the container.

→ So:
- Solid: Fixed volume, doesn’t fill container
- Liquid: Fixed volume, fills bottom part of container
- Gas: Expands to fill entire container volume

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Step 4: “SHAPE” AND MASS AND MISC

“Shape” means: Does it have a definite shape?

- Solid: Definite shape — holds its own form.
- Liquid: No definite shape — takes shape of container.
- Gas: No definite shape — spreads out to fill container.

Mass: All phases have mass — that doesn’t change when state changes (unless you add/remove matter).

Misc: Maybe mention compressibility or flow?

- Solids: Hard to compress, don’t flow
- Liquids: Hard to compress, can flow
- Gases: Easy to compress, flow easily

→ So for “SHAPE”:
- Solid: Definite shape
- Liquid: Indefinite shape (takes container’s shape)
- Gas: Indefinite shape (fills container)

And we can note: All have mass; gases are compressible, solids/liquids are not.

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Now let’s write this into the table format clearly.

Final Answer:

| | SOLID | LIQUID | GAS |
|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| SPACING AND RELATIVE DENSITY | Tightly packed; highest density | Close together; medium density | Far apart; lowest density |
| MOVEMENT & RELATIVE KINETIC ENERGY | Vibrate in place; lowest KE | Slide past each other; medium KE | Move fast and randomly; highest KE |
| FILLING A CONTAINER (VOLUME) | Fixed volume; does not fill container | Fixed volume; fills bottom of container | Expands to fill entire container volume |
| “SHAPE” AND MASS AND MISC | Definite shape; hard to compress; doesn’t flow | Indefinite shape; hard to compress; flows | Indefinite shape; easy to compress; flows easily |

*(Note: Mass is present in all phases — it doesn’t change with state unless matter is added or removed.)*