Why does water change state?

Answer 1

Water, like all matter, changes its state thru thermodynamics and/or a chemical reaction. Since all matter consists of both particulate matter and energy, and except in a collider, you can't change matter, we will have to alter the energy state of the matter to morph from one state to the next

In the case of a liquid state in our atmosphere, we can define its solid, liquid, gaseous, and plasma state thru out the infrared spectrum. Using the Kelvin and/or the Fahrenheit or centigrade scales, we can establish its solid state by decreasing the liquid's temperature until it's atoms or molecules (element or compound respectively) slow down in to a lower energy state, having given up their existing energy to a lower energy source...which is "colder" (has less heat) Water, a dipole, with a bonding energy second only to Mercury, when frozen, forms crystals, producing a lattice structure which has space between the lattice components, thus causing the solid (ice) to have a greater size, but less dense medium. Nearing absolute zero, many feel that water takes on the physical properties of a metal.

As the temperature is raised, when enough energy is added (infrared) it's crystalline structure disassembles and the water becomes a cold liquid. As the temperature continues to rise. it's molecules have a higher energy state, and begin to evaporate into the ambient. Further energy introduced results in more and more distance between the molecules which is propagated by their heightened energized state...finally, when enough infrared energy is introduced, the liquid becomes unstable and "boils", giving off it's heat, and some of it's matter in the form of steam. Further infusion of infrared energy results in a superheated state.....in the case of water, boiling at atmospheric pressure is 212 at sea level, whereas it's superheated state is 286 at sea level.......lowering the ambient pressure will lower these points...such as in a vacuum.....adding pressure will allow the rise to the 286 mark....about 45 psi vs 14.7 at atmospheric pressure. Plasma, however, with further energy being introduced, is not created as with many types matter capable of being a liquid and a gas, by energizing it to a state where it's constituent's parts separate into ionized particles, with no electromagnetic bonds to keep them together, as the energy supersedes the bonding energy at the atomic level, long after the covalent bonds of a molecule were compromised in a lower energy state....water will deconstruct however, thru the use of a membrane, such as the type used to make hydrogen at a fuel cell facility.

Answer 2

It gains energy when it melts, boils, evaporates, or sublimates, and it loses energy when it freezes, condenses, or deposits.

Solid state is ice, where the molecules do not move freely. Liquid state is water, where the molecules move freely. Gaseous state is water vapor, where the molecules are separated from each other.

For those not familiar with the terms, sublimation and deposition is when water changes state directly from a solid to a gas, or from a gas to a solid, respectively.poop=