States
of matter
& Solids
chem1 virtual textbook
a reference text for General Chemistry
Stephen Lower
Simon Fraser University
The pages in this section of the Chem1 Virtual Textbook present an overview of the condensed states of matter. Although there is more detail than can be found in standard textbooks, the level is still suitable for first-year college and advanced high school courses. These pages should also be helpful as review material for students in more advanced courses in chemistry, geology, and materials science.
To access the desired page, click one of the lesson titles immediately below; you can also go directly to any sub-section within a lesson by clicking on a smaller heading.
1- Matter under the microscope: States of Matter
These first four sections introduce basic concepts appropriate to most introductory courses.
2- Interactions between molecular units
4- Liquids and their interfaces
5- Changes of state: vapor pressure, phase maps
7- Ionic and ion-derived solids
8- Cubic lattices and close-packing
11- Colloids New - Sept 2012
12- Liquid crystals New - Sept 2012