What is it
Children learn to compare and group materials as solids, liquids or gases, and understand that some materials change state when heated or cooled, including how evaporation and condensation form part of the water cycle.
Why it matters
This is a child's first formal introduction to physical chemistry — the particle-level explanation for why materials behave this way is exactly what's studied at KS3 and GCSE chemistry.
Exam tip
Be confident naming the change-of-state words in both directions (melting/freezing, evaporation/condensation) — questions often test whether you know the correct term for each specific direction of change.
Related topics
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