How has the Earth's atmosphere changed over time, and why?Change of state
The Earth, its oceans and atmosphere are made of elements and compounds in different states. The particle model may be used to explain the different properties of the solid, liquid and gas states.
The diagram summarises the common changes of stateSolid, liquid or gas. Evaporation is a change of state from liquid to gas..
Some substances can change directly from solid to gas without becoming a liquid in between. This is called sublimationWhen a solid turns straight into a gas on heating, without becoming a liquid first - or when a gas turns straight into a solid, without becoming a liquid.. Solid carbon dioxide ('dry ice') and iodine can sublimeAble to change from a solid to a gas, or from a gas to a solid, without becoming a liquid..
Physical and chemical change
Changes of state are physical changes. The substance remains the same.
It is only during a chemical change that a new substance is formed.
Limitations of the particle model - Higher
The particle model The scientific theory used to explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases. It involves the arrangement and movement of the particles in a substance. represents particleA general term for a small piece of matter. For example, protons, neutrons, electrons, atoms, ions or molecules. as inelastic spheres.
It makes a number of simplifications:
it assumes that particles are spheres
it represents spheres as the same size
the gap between atomThe smallest part of an element that can exist. in a gas are small enough to make a diagram fit on the page, they should be much larger
differences in the forces of attraction between particles are not fully explained
This means that there is a limit to what the particle model can explain. For example, it cannot explain why substances have different melting pointThe temperature at which a solid changes into a liquid as it is heated. and boiling points.