Lesson 1

Matter
I. Answer the following:
1. Define matter. Give examples.

Ans: Matter is something which occupies space, has mass and can be
perceived by our senses.
Ex: air, water, iron, hydrogen, milk, etc.

2. Mention the composition of matter according to the Ancient

Indian Philosophers.

Ans: Indian Philosophers considered that matter was made up of five tatvas,
namely:
a. Akash (sky)
b. Vayu (air)
c. Tejas (fire)
d. Jal (water)
e. Prithvi (Earth)
3. Write the composition of matter according to the philosopher
Maharishi Kanada.

Ans: Maharishi Kanada considered matter to be made up of tiny particles

called anu.

4. Write the composition of matter according to the scientist John

Dalton.

Ans: John Dalton established that matter is composed of tiny particles

called molecules.

5. Define a molecule.

Ans: Molecule can exist free in nature and it has all the properties of that
substance.

6. What are monoatomic molecules? Give examples.

Ans: A molecule composed of one atom is called monoatomic molecule.

Ex: helium, neon, argon, etc.

7. What are diatomic molecules? Give examples.

Ans: A molecule composed of two atoms is called diatomic molecules.

Ex: hydrogen molecule, oxygen molecule, nitrogen molecule, etc.
 8. What are polyatomic molecules? Give examples.

Ans: A molecule composed of more than two atoms is called polyatomic

molecule.
Ex: water, ammonia, carbon dioxide, etc.

9. Mention the characteristics of molecules.

Ans:
a. Molecules are small in size
b. They have intermolecular space.
c. They have intermolecular force.
d. They possess kinetic energy.
10. What is meant by force of cohesion? Give an example.

Ans: The intermolecular force of attraction between the molecules of the

same substance is called force of cohesion.
Ex: The force of attraction between molecules of a chalk.

11. What is meant by force of adhesion? Give an example.

Ans: The intermolecular force of attraction between the molecules of two

different substances is called force of adhesion.
Ex: the force of attraction between the molecules of chalk and the board.

12. Mention the three states of matter.

Ans:
a. Solid
b. Liquid
c. Gas
13. Mention the properties which decide the state of substance
(solid, liquid and gas).

Ans:
a. Intermolecular force
b. Intermolecular space
c. Kinetic energy of molecules
14. When the substance is said to be a solid?

Ans: When intermolecular force very strong and kinetic energy is very less,
the intermolecular space is reduced, then the substance is said to be a solid.

15. When the substance is said to be a liquid?

Ans: When intermolecular force is not much strong and has sufficient
kinetic energy, the intermolecular space is increased, then the substance is
said to be a liquid.

16. When the substance is said to be a gas?

Ans: When intermolecular force is negligible and kinetic energy is very high,
more intermolecular space, then the substance is said to be a gas.

17. State the differences between solid, liquid and gas

according to the properties given.

Ans:

Property solid liquid Gas

shape definite indefinite indefinite
volume definite definite Indefinite
rigidity rigid Non-rigid Non-rigid
movement Vibrate to and Move within the Move freely in
fro about their boundary of the the available
mean position vessel space
Intermolecular Very strong Less strong weak
force
Intermolecular weak more Very strong
space
fluidity Cannot flow Can flow Can flow

18. What is meant be change of state of matter?

Ans: The process of change from one state to another state either by
absorption or rejection of heat at a constant temperature is called change of
state of matter.

19. Define melting.

Ans: The change from the solid state to the liquid state on absorption of
heat at a fixed temperature is called melting.

20. What is melting point?

Ans: The temperature at which a solid change into liquid without further
increase in temperature is called the melting point.

21. Define freezing.

Ans: The change of state of a substance from the liquid state to its solid
state on rejection of heat is called freezing.

22. What is freezing point?

Ans: The temperature at which a liquid change into solid without further
decrease in temperature is called the freezing point.

23. What is specific latent heat? Write its SI unit.

Ans: The amount of heat absorbed or rejected during the change of state for
a unit mass of substance is called specific latent heat.
Its SI unit is Jkg-1 (joule per kilogram)

24. What is freezing mixture? State its applications.

Ans: The mixture of ice and salt is called freezing mixture. It is used in
preparing kulfies.

25. Define vaporization.

Ans: The change from liquid state to gaseous state on heating at a constant
temperature by absorption of heat is called vaporization or boiling.

26. Define boiling point.

Ans: The temperature at which a liquid change into vapour state without
further increase in temperature is called boiling point.

27. Define condensation.

Ans: The change from vapour state to liquid state at a constant temperature
on rejecting heat is called condensation.

28. Define condensation point.

Ans: The temperature at which vapour changes into liquid without any
further decrease in temperature is called condensation point.

29. Why is it difficult to cook vegetables at the mountains?

Ans: Pressure is low at the mountains. So boiling point decreases with

decrease in pressure.

30. What is the effect of impurities on boiling point of a liquid?

Ans: The boiling point of a liquid increases when impurities are added to it.

31. Mention the factors on which the rate of evaporation

depends on.

Ans:
a. The temperature of liquid
b. The area of the exposed surface
c. The nature of liquid
d. The flow of air above the liquid
 e. The presence of moisture or humidity.

32. State the differences between evaporation and boiling.

Ans:

Evaporation Boiling
1. It is a slow process. 1. It is a rapid process
2. It takes place at the surface of 2. it takes place through out the
the liquid mass of liquid.
3. It takes place at all 3. It takes at a particular
temperatures temperature.
4. The temperature of the 4. The temperature of surroundings
surroundings falls remains constant.
33. Why water gets cooled in an earthen pot?

Ans: The water seeps out on the surface through the pores in the pot and it
evaporates. The heat required for evaporation is taken from water inside the
pot and water gets cooled.

34. Why doctors’ advice to put the strips of wet cloth in the
forehead of a patient having high fever?

Ans: The water of the strips evaporates. During evaporation, water takes
heat from the patient and thus the temperature of the patient’s body
decreases.

35. Why we often pour tea in a saucer while drinking?

Ans: We often pour tea in a saucer to cool it faster. In the saucer, the
surface area of tea increases and evaporation becomes faster.

36. Explain why evaporation of sweat from our body helps to

maintain the body temperature at 37ºC or 98.6ºF?

Ans: When sweat evaporates, it requires heat which it takes away from our
body. As a result, temperature falls to keep the body at 37ºC.

37. Define sublimation.

Ans: Sublimation is the process by which a solid when heated, directly

changes into its vapour state without first changing into liquid state.

38. Define deposition or solidification.

Ans: Deposition is a process when a vapour on cooling changes directly into

a solid without first changing into liquid.

39. What do you mean by intermolecular spaces? How do they

vary in different states of matter?
Ans: The space between the molecules of matter is called inter molecular
space. In solids, molecules are closely packed. In liquids, molecules are
loosely packed. In gases, the molecules are wide apart.

40. What is meant by intermolecular forces of attraction? How

do they vary in solids, liquids and gases?

Ans: The molecules of matter exert a force of attraction on each other. This
force of attraction is called intermolecular force. In solids, the intermolecular
forces are very strong. In liquids, it is moderate. In gases, it is very weak.

41. A liquid can change into vapour state

a. At a fixed temperature
b. At all temperatures
Name the processes involved in both the cases.

Ans:

a. Boiling
b. Evaporation
42. State
a. The melting point of ice
b. The boiling point of water

Ans:
a. 0ºC
b. 100ºC
43. Why are volatile liquids such as alcohol and spirit stored in
tightly closed bottles?

Ans: Volatile liquids with low boiling point such as alcohol, spirit, etc.
evaporate much faster than water, therefore volatile liquids are stored in
tightly closed bottles.

44. Why is cooling produced on evaporation of a liquid?

Ans: When a liquid changes into vapour, it requires heat. This heat is
supplied by the surroundings of liquid. This results in fall in temperature
and cooling is produced.

45. Why does the size of naphthalene balls decrease when left
open?

Ans: Naphthalene balls decrease in size when left exposed to air due to
sublimation.

46. Wet clothes dry more quickly on a warm dry day than on a
cold humid day. Explain.
Ans: Evaporation is faster than in dry air than in humid air.

47. Water in dish evaporates faster than in a bottle. Give

reason.

Ans: Water evaporates faster from a dish than from a bottle because the
dish offers a larger surface area for evaporation than the bottle.

48. When we put some acetone or petrol on our palm, it feels

cold. Give reason.

Ans: When acetone or petrol is placed on the palm, it feels cold due to the
process of evaporation. It takes heat from the surroundings and brings
cooling effect.

49. On a humid day, you sweat more and feel less cool in
comparison to a breezy day where sweating makes you feel much
cooler. Give reason.

Ans: On a humid day, the air is saturated with moisture, which reduces the
rate of evaporation of sweat from your skin. When sweat evaporates, it takes
heat away from your body, making you feel cooler.