UNIT 6. Text: “Unusual States of Matter”.
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UNIT 6

 

I. Find out the words in the dictionary. Write them down and learn.

 

to comply, pure, outside, a mixture, exceptional, solution, to diffuse, parchment, crystalloid, colloid, to arrange, to fix, a thermometer, a plane, polarized light, to create, thermonuclear, to alter, voltage, a conductor, fusion, a source of power

 

II. Read the text. Use a dictionary, if necessary.

 

Text: “Unusual States of Matter”.

 

Some substances exist in states that do not comply with the normal definitions of a gas, a liquid, or a solid. For example, jelly is neither a true solid nor a liquid, and smoke is neither a pure gas nor a solid. Matter in stars and in the tails of comets exists as a plasma, a mixture of charged particles that is outside the normal definition of a gas. In general, a plasma can exist only at extremely high temperatures. At extremely low temperatures, approaching absolute zero, some materials take on remarkable properties. Although they are not strictly different states of matter, their behaviour is exceptional.

Colloids. In 1861, the physical chemist Thomas Graham discovered that some substances in solution, such as salt, sugar, and copper sulfate, diffuse through parchment, whereas others, such as glue and gelatine do not. He therefore divided substances into two groups: crystalloids (that diffuse through parchment) and colloids (that do not diffuse). And he believed that the difference between a crystalloid and a colloid depended largely upon particle size. We now know that Graham was broadly correct. But we also know that most crystalloids can be brought into the colloidal state. A colloid is a solution in which the component particles are large molecules or clumps of small molecules.

Liquid crystals. The liquid state is intermediate between the solid state and the gaseous state. Some substances, however, are intermediate between solids and liquids. In a liquid crystal the atoms or molecules are arranged in a pattern, like those of a solid crystal. But the pattern is not completely fixed; it can be altered by heat or an electric field. Some liquid crystals change colour at certain temperatures and can, therefore, be used in liquid crystal thermometers. In others an electrical voltage causes a change in patterns that alters the plane of polarized light. Such types are used to make liquid crystal displays for watches and calculators.

Plasmas. A plasma is sometimes described as being the fourth state of matter – that is, one phase farther on from a gas. In fact a plasma is created by heating a gas to such a high temperature that its atoms or molecules lose electrons and become ions. The gas is almost fully ionized and becomes a very good electrical conductor. The gases that are involved in the thermonuclear reactions of the sun and other stars are in the form of a plasma. Scientists are trying to recreate such a plasma on earth by heating the gases deuterium and tritium (isotopes of hydrogen) to tens of millions of degrees in special installations. In this way, they hope to produce a controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction as a source of power.

 

III. Find nouns (a), adjectives (b) and adverbs (c) in the following words. Translate all of them:

 

substance, definition, pure, mixture, normal, extremely, remarkable, strictly, behaviour, exceptional, largely, crystalloid, broadly, colloidal, solution, intermediate, gaseous, completely, electric, calculator, fully, conductor, thermonuclear, installation, power, certain, property

 

IV. Practice the following speech patterns.

 

Pattern 1.  Jelly is neither a true solid nor a liquid. 

 

  1. smoke – a pure gas, a solid
  2. liquid crystal – a solid, a gas
  3. plasma – a solid, a gas

 

Pattern 2.  The difference depends upon the particle size. 

 

  1. pattern
  2. structure
  3. temperature
  4. dispersion medium
  5. disperse phase
  6. molecule size 

 

Pattern 3.  The pattern can be altered by heat. 

 

  1. temperature
  2. external forces
  3. internal forces
  4. electric field
  5. electrical voltage
  6. magnetic field 

 

V. Find the sentences that can’t be found in the text.

 

  1. Some substances exist in states that do not comply with the normal definitions of a gas, a liquid or a solid.
  2. Colloids are classified according to the physical state of the dispersion medium and the disperse phase.
  3. Colloids have different properties from those of true solutions because of the size of the particles.
  4. Colloidal particles nearly always carry an electrical charge.
  5. Some liquid crystals change colour at certain temperatures.
  6. A plasma is created by heating a gas to such a high temperature that its atoms or molecules lose electrons and become ions.

 

VI. Find the English equivalents in the text.

 

  1. существовать при крайне высоких температурах _________________
  2. смесь заряженных частиц _____________________________________
  3. приобретать исключительные свойства _________________________
  4. зависеть от размера частицы ___________________________________
  5. структура не жестко фиксированная ____________________________
  6. при определенных температурах ________________________________
  7. электрическое напряжение _____________________________________
  8. плоскость поляризованного света _______________________________

 

VII. Translate the following word combinations and noun groups into Russian.

 

  1. not to comply with the normal definition of a gas _____________________
  2. true solid _____________________________________________________
  3. neither a solid nor a liquid ________________________________________
  4. to exist as a plasma _____________________________________________
  5. in general _____________________________________________________
  6. temperatures approaching absolute zero _____________________________
  7. to diffuse through parchment ______________________________________
  8. he was broadly correct ___________________________________________
  9. atoms and molecules are arranged in a pattern ________________________
  10. liquid crystal thermometers _______________________________________
  11. to cause a change _______________________________________________
  12. liquid crystal displays ____________________________________________

 

VIII. Fill in the missing words.

 

  1. Some substances exist in states that do not _____ with the normal definitions of a gas, a liquid or a solid.
  2. Smoke is neither a _____ gas nor a solid.
  3. Matter in stars and in the tails of comets exists as a plasma, a _____ of charged particles.
  4. Although they are strictly not different states of matter, their _____ is exceptional.
  5. In 1861, the physical chemist Thomas Graham discovered that some substances in _____, such as salt and sugar, _____ through parchment.
  6. He believed that the difference between a crystalloid and a colloid depended largely upon _____ _____.
  7. A colloid is _____ in which the component particles are large molecules or clumps of small molecules.
  8. The liquid state is _____ between the solid state and the gaseous state.
  9. In a liquid crystal the atoms or molecules are _____ in a pattern, like those of a solid crystal.
  10. The pattern is not completely fixed; it can be _____ by heat or an electric field.
  11. In some liquid crystals an electrical _____ causes a change in pattern that alters the plane of polarized light.
  12. The gas is almost fully ionized and becomes a very good electrical _____.

 

IX. Fill in the prepositions if necessary.

 

  1. Some substances exist ___ states that do not comply ___ the normal definition ___ a gas, liquid or a solid.
  2. ___ general, plasma can exist only ___ extremely high temperatures.
  3. ___ extremely low temperatures, approaching ___ absolute zero, some materials take ___ remarkable properties.
  4. ___ 1861 Thomas Graham discovered that some substance ___ solution diffuse ___ parchment.
  5. He believed that the difference ___ a crystalloid and a colloid depended largely ___ particle size.
  6. ___ a liquid crystal the atoms or molecules are arranged ___ a pattern.
  7. The pattern can be altered ___ heat or an electric field.
  8. A plasma is described as being the fourth state ___ matter; that is, one phase farther ___ ___a gas.
  9. ___ fact, a plasma is created ___ heating a gas ___ such a high temperature that its atoms or molecules lose electrons and become ions.
  10.  Scientists are trying to recreate such a plasma ___ earth now.

 

X. Define whether the sentences are true or false.

 

  1. Matter in stars and in the tails of comets exists as a gas.
  2. A plasma can exist only at extremely low temperatures.
  3. At extremely low temperatures approaching absolute zero some materials take on remarkable properties.
  4. Thomas Graham divided substances into two groups: “true” and amorphous.
  5. In a liquid crystal the atoms or molecules are not arranged in a pattern.
  6. Some liquid crystals change colour at certain temperatures.
  7. A plasma is sometimes described as being the fifth state of matters.
  8. The gases that are involved in the thermonuclear reactions of the sun and other stars are in the form of a plasma. 

 

XI. Practice with someone asking and answering.

 

  1. Are there states of matter that do not comply with the normal definitions of a gas, a liquid or a solid?
  2. What are the examples of unusual states of matter?
  3. Are they strictly different states of matter?
  4. When did the physical chemist Thomas Graham make experiments with substances in solution?
  5. What did he discover?
  6. How did he call substances that would diffuse through parchment?
  7. What substances were called colloids?
  8. What is the definition of a colloid?
  9. Are there any substances that are intermediate between solids and liquids?
  10. What happens in a liquid crystal?
  11. What is a plasma?
  12. In what way is a plasma created?

 

XII. Put questions to the following sentences.

 

  1. A plasma can exist only at extremely high temperature. (Alternative)
  2. In 1861 Thomas Graham discovered crystalloids and colloids. (Special)
  3. Some liquid crystals change colour at certain temperature. (General, disjunctive)

 

XIII. Dictate the following sentences in English to your fellow-students. Check them together.

 

  1. Some substances exist in states that do not comply with the normal definitions of a gas, a liquid or a solid.
  2. In 1861 the physical chemist Thomas Graham discovered that some substances in solution diffuse through parchment.
  3. He believed that the difference between a crystalloid and a colloid depended upon particle size.
  4. In a liquid crystal the atoms or molecules are arranged in a pattern.
  5. A plasma is created by heating a gas to a high temperature.

 

XIV. Dictation-translation.

 

  1. Некоторые вещества существуют в таких состояниях, которые не подходят под обычные определения твердого тела, жидкости и газа.
  2. Вещество в звездах и хвостах комет существует в виде плазмы (смеси заряженных частиц), которая находится за пределами обычного определения газа.
  3. В общем, плазма может существовать только при крайне высоких температурах.
  4. При крайне низких температурах, приближающихся к абсолютному нулю, некоторые вещества приобретают необычные свойства.
  5. В 1861 году физик-химик Томас Грэхэм обнаружил, что некоторые вещества в растворе диффундируют через пергамент.
  6. Мы знаем, что большинство кристаллоидов могут быть приведены в коллоидальное состояние.
  7. В жидком кристалле атомы и молекулы организованы в структуру, похожую на структуру твердого кристалла.
  8. Структура кристалла не является полностью фиксированной; она может меняться под воздействием теплоты или электрического поля.
  9. Электрическое напряжение вызывает изменение в структуре, которое изменяет плоскость поляризованного света.

10. Фактически плазма создается путем нагревания газа до такой высокой температуры, что его атомы или молекулы теряют электроны и становятся ионами.