States of Matter: free chemistry simulation
Heat and cool atoms bound by intermolecular forces: watch solid, liquid and gas form.
▶ Open the simulationFree, no sign-up. Works on phones, tablets and laptops.
The science
Atoms attract each other weakly when they are close. At low temperature the attraction holds them in a regular solid; with more energy they slide past each other as a liquid; with even more they break free as a gas. Melting and boiling happen when the particles’ kinetic energy beats the attractions.
Things to try
- Heat a solid slowly and watch it melt.
- Keep heating until the liquid boils.
- Cool a gas quickly and see droplets form.
Topics covered
solid liquid gas phase lennard-jones melting boiling
How to use it
Open the simulation, then change the experiment live with the sliders, checkboxes and buttons in the side panel. Drag objects on screen where it makes sense, and use Pause, Step, Speed and Reset in the bottom bar to study every moment.
Frequently asked questions
What does the States of Matter simulation show?
Atoms attract each other weakly when they are close. At low temperature the attraction holds them in a regular solid; with more energy they slide past each other as a liquid; with even more they break free as a gas. Melting and boiling happen when the particles’ kinetic energy beats the attractions.
Is the States of Matter simulation free?
Yes. It runs free in any web browser on phones, tablets and laptops, with no sign-up or download.
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