States of Matter
Chemical engineers apply their understanding of the three states of matterCopyright (right) Rhannosh (own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0] via Wikimedia Commons, (left) USGS and Wikimedia Commons http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/vapor-pressure.html http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AWater_phase_diagram.png
Students act as chemical engineers and use LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robotics to record temperatures and learn about the three states of matter. Properties of matter can be measured in various ways, including volume, mass, density and temperature. Students measure the temperature of water in its solid state (ice) as it is melted and then evaporated.
Matter is all around us and found in just about any application in science, education, technology and engineering. When matter changes states, its physical properties also change. Chemical engineers are often interested in vapor liquid equilibrium data (the amount of species in equilibrium in a liquid and gas phase simultaneously). This type of data is found experimentally and is usually needed for product manufacturing and power plants. Mechanical engineers make measurements on solid materials such as composites or structural aspects in designs of airplanes and cars. Chemical engineers measure temperature and density in order to make everyday products such as toothpaste and medicines. All science and engineering fields deal with matter changing from one state to another.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the three states of matter.
- Explain that physical properties of matter can be measured (such as temperature, mass, volume, density, etc.).
- Explain the concept of evaporation.
- Identify the temperature at which water boils.