Phases of Water

Water exists in three different states. They are solid, liquid, and gas.

Solid

When water is in the solid phase the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. A solid can appear in the form of snow or ice.

Liquid

Ice becomes a liquid once the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When water goes from a solid to a liquid the molecules spread out. Water as a liquid has a greater density than a solid.

Gas

For a liquid to become a gas it has to be heated to a temperature above 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Gases are colorless and odorless, you can not see gas but you can someimes hear or smell it.

Phase Changes

When water changes phases its physical properties change, but not its chemical properties. Melting is the process when a solid changes to a liquid. Evaporation occurs when a liquid changes to a gas. Condensation is the process of changing from a gas to a liquid.