What causes matter to change states?
1 Answer
Increased kinetic energy.
Explanation:
an increase in kinetic energy causes the molecules (or atoms) to move faster. The increased vibrations due to the increased energy will cause the bonds holding a solid to break. When the bonds break the solid melts ( changes state) into a liquid.
In a liquid the vapor pressure above the liquid is greater than the kinetic energy of the liquid molecules ( atoms). There are temporary bonds between the liquid molecules that can be broken by the increased energy. As the kinetic energy increases some of the molecules (atoms) have sufficient energy to become gas overcoming both the temporary bonds and the vapor pressure pushing down.
A similar process works in reverse as the molecules ( atoms ) lose kinetic energy.
It is changes in kinetic energy that causes the phase changes.
