Problem 10 - General Chemistry

Question

What phases or states of matter are present in a glass of bubbling carbonated beverage that contains ice cubes?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Solid, liquid, and gas states are present.

Step 1: Identify the Components

A glass of bubbling carbonated beverage with ice cubes consists of several components, which include the beverage itself, carbon dioxide gas bubbles, and ice cubes.

Step 2: Determine States of Matter

Identify the states of matter for each component in the glass. The beverage is in the liquid state, the carbon dioxide bubbles represent a gas state, and the ice cubes are in the solid state.

Step 3: Summarize the States of Matter

Combine all identified states to summarize what is present in the glass. This glass has solid ice cubes, liquid beverage, and gaseous carbon dioxide bubbles.

Key Concepts

Solid State

Matter in the solid state has a fixed shape and volume. This means that solids do not easily change their shape or the amount of space they take up. The molecules inside a solid are closely packed together and vibrate in place.
Think of a brick: it keeps its shape whether you hold it in your hand or set it down. Ice cubes are an excellent everyday example. In a glass of carbonated beverage, the ice cubes remain as solid blocks unless they melt.
You'll notice that solids generally have a definite structural order. This is why we can hold, stack, and shape solids. They do not flow like liquids or spread out like gases. Solid ice cubes stay solid until enough heat causes them to turn into a liquid.

• Fixed shape and volume: Solids remain consistent in shape and size.
• Structure: Molecules are tightly packed in a regular pattern.
• Vibration: Even though solids are fixed, their molecules still vibrate.

Liquid State

Liquids are unique in that they have a definite volume but take the shape of their container. This versatility is due to the way molecules in a liquid interact. They are closer together than in gases but not as tightly bound as in solids.
In a glass of beverage, the liquid component fills and adapts to the shape of the glass. This is the liquid state, which allows it to flow and conform to boundaries like glass room confines.
Liquids exhibit a property called viscosity, which describes how easily they flow. Honey, for example, has high viscosity and flows slowly, whereas water flows more freely. Here are some properties of liquids:

• Definite volume: Does not change unless the liquid is moved or evaporated.
• Shape adaptation: Takes the form of its container.
• Viscosity: Variable flow rates based on internal friction.

Gas State

In contrast to solids and liquids, gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume. Instead, they expand freely to fill any available space. The gas particles are far apart and move independently.
This is why the bubbles in a fizzy drink, made up of carbon dioxide gas, spread throughout the liquid beverage filling every part of the space available. Gases can be easily compressed or expanded, showing how loosely gas particles are packed.
Some key points about gases include:

• No fixed shape: Gases take the shape of their entire container.
• Fill all available space: They expand to entirely occupy a container.
• Compressibility: Gases can be easily compressed compared to solids and liquids.