WEEK 4: DATE:…………….
SUBJECT: PHYSICS CLASS: SS1
TOPIC: PARTICULATE NATURE OF MATTER (CONT’D)
CONTENTS
1. Crystal structure of matter 2. Crystalline and amorphous substances
3. The three state of matter ( solid, liquid and gaseous) 4. Photons (particle nature of photons)
Sub topic 1. Crystal structure of matter
A crystal is a solid matter that has definite melting point and definite characteristic shape irrespective of the size. In any crystal, the
atoms, molecules or irons are arranged in definite repetitive pattern or lattice. Substances which have the same crystalline shape are
said to be isomorphous. This implies that crystalline substances exist in different shapes. For example, sodium chloride crystals have
cubical shape. Other crystals shapes are; prismatic and octahedral shapes. See diagrams below.
(a) Cubic crystal (b) Prismatic crystal (c) Octahedral
E. g Sodium Chloride e.g Copper II Tetraoxosulphate(VI) e.g alum
The basic unit of a crystal is called unit cell. If these unit cells are packed up and down, side by side, in all directions, a cubic lattice will
emerged. The atoms or molecules or ions are placed at the corners of the unit cells stacked side by side, up and down like building
blocks. This is the structure of sodium chloride (NaCl). In sodium chloride crystal structure, the atoms of (Na) and (Cl) are arranged
such that the atoms take alternate positions in the cube. Each atom within the crystal has six immediate neighbours. The chloride ions
(Cl-) are larger than the sodium ions (Na+). Since their charges are opposite, they are held together by strong electrostatic forces.
CL-
Na
Other types of unit cells are; face-centred
Sodium cubic
chloride (FCC)
(NaCl) and the body centred cubic (BCC) crystals.
cubic
1. Face-centred cubic crystals:
These crystals have identical atoms at each of the corners and different atom or ion at the centre of each of the faces as shown in
Zinc Sulphide (ZnS) unit cell below.
Face-Centred Cubic
2. Body-Centred cubic crystals
Crystals that fall into this group are: Chromium, ion and platinum salts. In these crystals, the unit cell has identical atoms or ions at
each corner and one different atom or ion at the centre of the unit cell as shown in the diagram below.
Body-Centred Cubic Crystals
Evaluation
1. What is a crystal?
2. What is meant by crystal lattice?
3. Differentiate between body-centred cubic crystals and face-centred cubic crystals
Subtopic 2: Non-crystalline or Amorphous Substances
Non-crystalline or amorphous substances do not have definite shape because their atoms are not regularly arranged like that of
crystalline substances. These substances behave more like liquids than solids. Examples of non-crystalline substances include: glass,
plastics, tar, e.t.c. the molecules of these substances are long-chain and are inter twined in the liquid state as shown below.
Chain-like molecules of amorphous
Note: Crystalline substances have high melting points because much heat is required to break the strong intermolecular forces binding
the molecules together.
Differences between amorphous and crystalline substances
s/n Crystalline substances Amorphous substances
1 They have definite shape No definite shape
2 They have definite and high melting points They have no definite melting point
3 They are usually soluble They are not usually soluble
4 They are either hydrated or anhydrous All are anhydrous
5 Crystallization takes place when melted Crystallization never takes place when melted
Sub topic 3: State of matter
Matter exists in three states, these are; Solid state, liquid state and gaseous state. In the solid state, the molecules are closely packed
and held together by strong intermolecular forces. The molecules do not move because of these strong intermolecular forces. They can
only vibrate about their mean positions. This accounts for why solids have definite shape and do not move easily.
In the liquid state, the intermolecular distances are greater and the molecules are also held together by forces which are not as strong
as those holding the molecules of solids. For this reason, the molecules have some degree of freedom to move. This is the reason why
liquids move and change shape easily.
In gaseous substances, intermolecular distances are the farthest and the intermolecular forces between the molecules are so weak that
the molecules move freely. The kinetic energies of these molecules are greater than that of solids and liquids. That is why gases move
fast and randomly. The table below gives the characteristics of the three states of matter.
Solids Liquids Gases
Have definite shape Have no definite shape. They take the Have no definite shape
shape of their container.
Have fixed size and volume Have fixed size and volume Have no fixed size and volume but spread
easily and occupy the volume of their
container
They don’t move easily They can move easily They move faster than liquids
The molecules are closely packed Intermolecular distances are greater Intermolecular distances are the farthest
and held together by strong than that of solids but intermolecular and intermolecular forces are weak and
intermolecular forces forces are weaker than that of solids negligible
They do not mix with other solids They may mix or not mix with other Mix easily with other gases
liquids
They are compressible They are incompressible They are compressible
Evaluation
1. Distinguish between crystalline and amorphous substances
2. Give 3 characteristics each of solids, liquids and gaseous substances
3. Draw the crystal structure of NaCl
Week end assignment
Reading assignment: Read on surface tension and viscosity answer the following questions
1) Define surface tension.
2) Mention four applications of surface tension.
3) Mention two ways surface tension can be reduced.
