Year 7 Particles and States of Matter Worksheet - Beginner

Year 7 Particles and States of Matter worksheet for Year 7 (Key Stage 3 / Year 7-9 (Ages 11-14)). Beginner level science practice, aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Print-ready with answer key included.

Science•Key Stage 3 / Year 7-9 (Ages 11-14)•Particles and States of Matterbeginner

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Particles, States and Separation

Year 7 Science | Ages 11–12 | Beginner

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Instructions: Work through the activities in order, using the particle model and the key science words carefully. Read each question, use the examples and data provided, and write your answer in the box. Check that you can explain your choices using scientific evidence.

The Particle Model

Use the particle model to describe how particles are arranged and move in each state. Choose precise words such as fixed, close together, vibrate, slide and move freely. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. In which state are particles close together in a fixed arrangement and only vibrate? [1 mark]

2. In which state are particles close together but able to move past one another? [1 mark]

3. In which state are particles far apart and move freely in all directions? [1 mark]

4. A solid is heated but does not melt. What happens to the movement of its particles? [1 mark]

Changes of State

Name the change of state described in each question. Use the exact scientific terms: melting, freezing, boiling, condensing or sublimation. For Question 5, identify the change from the description. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. Solid ice changes into liquid water. [1 mark]

2. Liquid water changes into solid ice. [1 mark]

3. A liquid changes into a gas throughout the liquid at its boiling point. [1 mark]

4. Water vapour cools and forms liquid droplets. [1 mark]

5. Solid iodine changes directly into a gas without becoming a liquid first. [1 mark]

Diffusion and Density

Read the observations and use the particle model to explain what is happening. Diffusion is the spreading of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. The smell of perfume spreads across a room. Name the process that causes this spreading. [1 mark]

2. Why do gas particles spread through a room? [1 mark]

3. A warm gas and a cool gas have the same volume. The warm gas has fewer particles in that volume. Which gas has the lower density? [1 mark]

4. A drop of food colouring spreads through still water. In which direction do the colouring particles diffuse overall: from higher concentration to lower concentration, or from lower concentration to higher concentration? [1 mark]

Pure Substances and Mixtures

Decide whether each sample is a pure substance or a mixture. A pure substance contains only one substance; a mixture contains two or more substances together. For Question 4, give one reason for your choice. Questions 1–3 are worth 1 mark each; Question 4 is worth 2 marks.

1. A sample contains only pure water. Is it a pure substance or a mixture? [1 mark]

2. A beaker contains salt dissolved in water. Is it a pure substance or a mixture? [1 mark]

3. A sample contains only oxygen gas. Is it a pure substance or a mixture? [1 mark]

4. Air contains nitrogen, oxygen and other gases. Classify air and give one reason for your answer. [2 marks]

Choosing a Separation Method

Choose the method that best separates each mixture: filtration, evaporation, simple distillation or chromatography. Think about whether the substances are soluble, whether a solid is insoluble, and whether a liquid needs to be collected. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. Separate insoluble sand from water. [1 mark]

2. Obtain dissolved salt from salt solution, without collecting the water. [1 mark]

3. Obtain pure water from salt solution by collecting the water after it evaporates and condenses. [1 mark]

4. Separate the different coloured dyes in a water-soluble ink. [1 mark]

Separation in Practice

Use the observations in the table to answer the questions below. In Question 3, name the best separation method and explain what it separates. Each question is worth 1 mark, except Question 3, which is worth 2 marks.

Mixture	What is visible?	Solubility in water
Sand and water	Cloudy solid particles	Insoluble
Salt and water	Clear solution	Soluble
Black ink	Several coloured marks	Some dyes soluble

1. Which mixture can be separated by filtration? [1 mark]

2. Which mixture should be separated by chromatography to investigate its coloured components? [1 mark]

3. Which method would obtain the dissolved salt from salt solution, and what would remain after the water has been removed? [2 marks]

Answer Key

Activity 1: 1. Solid ; 2. Liquid ; 3. Gas ; 4. They vibrate faster.

Activity 2: 1. Melting ; 2. Freezing ; 3. Boiling ; 4. Condensing ; 5. Sublimation.

Activity 3: 1. Diffusion ; 2. Gas particles move freely and randomly, spreading out through the available space ; 3. The warm gas ; 4. From higher concentration to lower concentration.

Activity 4: 1. Pure substance ; 2. Mixture ; 3. Pure substance ; 4. Mixture; it contains several gases, including nitrogen and oxygen.

Activity 5: 1. Filtration ; 2. Evaporation ; 3. Simple distillation ; 4. Chromatography.

Activity 6: 1. Sand and water ; 2. Black ink ; 3. Evaporation; the water is removed and salt remains.