Matter can change from one state to another. Heat makes these changes happen. Today you will watch matter change!
When a solid gets warm enough, it melts. Melting turns a solid into a liquid. Ice melts into water. This is called melting.
When a liquid gets very hot, it boils. Boiling turns a liquid into a gas. The gas from boiling water is called steam. Steam rises into the air.
These changes work in nature too. The sun warms puddles. The water turns into a gas and floats up. This is called evaporation. High in the sky, the gas cools into clouds. Then rain falls back down. This is the water cycle!
Adult supervision is required for the boiling water experiment. Only an adult touches the pot and the stove. Stand back at least three big steps. Never touch hot water or steam — steam can burn! Keep hands and faces away from the pot.
1. What happens when a solid melts?
2. What is the gas from boiling water called?
3. What makes matter change states?
You need: 2 ice cubes, 2 small plates, a sunny spot or warm room, a clock.
Steps: 1. Put one ice cube on each plate. 2. Put one plate in a warm spot. 3. Put the other plate in a cool spot. 4. Check both every 10 minutes. 5. Record what you see below.
| Check Time | Warm Spot Ice | Cool Spot Ice |
|---|---|---|
| Start | ||
| After 10 minutes | ||
| After 20 minutes | ||
| After 30 minutes |
Which ice cube melted faster?
Why do you think it melted faster?
Adult only: An adult heats a small pot of water on the stove. You watch from three big steps away.
Watch for: Little bubbles first, then big bubbles, then steam rising up!
Check the box for each thing you observed.
| Observation | Did you see it? |
|---|---|
| Small bubbles on the bottom of the pot | Yes No |
| Big bubbles rising to the top | Yes No |
| Steam rising from the water | Yes No |
| Less water in the pot after boiling | Yes No |
Draw the ice cube before melting and after melting.
Before: solid ice
After: liquid water
Pretend you are a drop of water in a puddle. The sun warms you up. What happens next? Use the words evaporate, cloud, and rain.
You must melt an ice cube as fast as you can. You may not use a stove. Draw or write your plan below.
Why will your plan work?
Today I watched matter change states. The most surprising thing I saw was...
Circle the change you saw today: solid → liquid liquid → gas both!