These worksheets look at matter and the states and forms that it can exist in.

Everything that you can see and touch is made up of matter. Even the stuff you can't see or touch, like the oxygen you are breathing now, is made up of matter. Matter mostly exists in one of three forms: solid, liquid, or gas. Solids have their molecules tightly packed together and they hold their shape. The molecules in liquids are a little more spread out and they take the shape of whatever container they are in. Gases are very spread out and are constantly moving. Matter can change phase simply by changing the temperature or pressure in its environment. These temperatures and pressures where a phase change will occur are different for all types of substances. In fact, many compounds are identified by simply verifying the temperature or pressure at which these phase changes occur. As matter shifts to another phase each type phase change has a specific name. We are all familiar with water. We most common think of water as a liquid, but it can be solid in the form of ice and a gas in the form of water vapor. As water moves through all of these phases it changes shape and speed. When matter changes from liquid form to solid form this is called freezing. When a liquid becomes a gas the phase change is called evaporation. When they go in the opposite direction, the names are changed. When a solid becomes a liquid, it is called melting. This is what happens to ice when it gets too hot. When a gas becomes a liquid, this is called condensation. For some reason we think that solids cannot quickly become gases or vice versa, but these are many substances that do this regularly. Dry ice which is carbon dioxide in a solid form often does this at room temperature. When a solid becomes a gas the phase change is called sublimination. When a gas becomes a solid this is called deposition. This commonly happens during the winter months when water vapor turns to ice and makes our roads rough to travel on.

The worksheets include the phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas), forms of substances, the action taken at each phase by the molecules involved. We begin this worksheet section by classifying many different substances on a chart. We move on to exploring the states of matter by using a fun puzzle. We then look at complete changes in phases of these substances. We then move on to drawing the molecules using water as our guide. We describe the shape and movement of the molecules along the way. If you are looking for basic worksheets, scroll down the page a bit.



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Print Phases of Matter Worksheets

Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.

It's Just a Phase Their Going Through

Label the boxes solid, liquid, or gas. Draw four molecules of water going through all three phases.

Describe the Phases of Matter

Circle the state of matter describe. In many cases, there can be more than one correct answer.

Draw My Phase

Make visual drawings of all of the phases of matter.

Crossword on States of Matter

Example questions: Term for materials made of the same element or compounds. When particles dissolved in a liquid fall out to create a solid. A state of matter with a definite volume but no definite shape.

Phase Change Examples

Draw what would happen to ice cubes if you left them out of the freezer for 3 hours. What could we do to return the water back to the "before" picture?

Phase Examples

Everyday we come in contact with matter in all phases. List 10 examples of matter in the various phases.

Label My Phase: Elements Compounds

Label the phase of each element or compound at room temperature.

Label My Phase: Common Matter

Label the phase of each common matter at room temperature.

Element, Compound, or Mixture

Place an "X" in the appropriate box for each substance.