Changing State: Melting

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

8

Overview

In this lesson, students will see a small piece of ice melt on an aluminum surface. Students will explain the energy transfer and molecular motion which cause the change in state from a solid to a liquid. Students will see and discuss animation of ice melting and compare the state changes of water to the state changes of other substances. They will also investigate the sublimation of dry ice through a teacher demonstration, or video if dry ice is not readily available.

Students will be able to explain on the molecular level the process of heat transfer and molecular motion that causes a solid to melt to form a liquid. Students will also be able to explain how the arrangement of water molecules is different from most other substances when it changes state from a solid to a liquid.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 8

SC15.8.4

Design and conduct an experiment to determine changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.

UP:SC15.8.4

Vocabulary

  • Particle motion
  • Temperature
  • State [of Matter]
  • Pure substance
  • Thermal Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • System

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Changes in particle motion of a pure substance occur when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Changes in temperature of a pure substance occur when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Changes in state of a pure substance occur when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify the phenomena under investigation, which includes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Identify the purpose of the investigation, which includes determining changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Develop a plan for the investigation individually or collaboratively.
  • Describe factors used in the investigation including appropriate units (if necessary), independent and dependent variables, controls and number of trials for each experimental condition.
  • Perform the investigation as prescribed by the plan.
  • Use data from the investigation to provide an causal account of the relationship between the addition of removal of thermal energy from a substance and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Adding or removing thermal energy from a system causes changes in particle motion of a pure substance.
  • Adding or removing thermal energy from a system causes changes in temperature of a pure substance.
  • Adding or removing thermal energy from a system causes changes in state of a pure substance.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Systems and System Models

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

American Chemical Society

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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