Matter can change from one state to another, depending on a change in temperature (heating and cooling). These processes commonly used to describe the change in states of matter are:

Some important definitions

1. Melting:

It is the change of state of matter from solid to liquid e.g. when heat is applied to ice it melts and becomes liquid.

2. Boiling:

It is the change of state of matter from liquid to gas e.g. when heat is applied to water it boils and becomes a gas

3. Condensation:

It is the change of state from gas to liquid. E.g. when steam is cooled it condenses to water.

4. Freezing (solidification):

This is the change of state from liquid to solid. E.g. when water is cooled in the freezer for some hours it freezes to become solid (ice).

5. Sublimation:

It is the change of state from solid to gas without passing through the liquid state. E.g. camphor, iodine, etc.