🔬 CBSE · Class 9 · Science · Chapter 1

Matter in Our
Surroundings

Complete chapter resources for CBSE Class 9 Science — topic breakdown, key concepts, sample questions, previous year board questions, and instant AI question paper generation.

4Topics
5–6Board marks
8Sample questions
3PYQ included
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Key Concepts — Chapter 1
  • States of matter: Solid · Liquid · Gas (+ Plasma, BEC)
  • Interconversion: Melting · Freezing · Evaporation · Condensation · Sublimation
  • Latent Heat of Fusion: 334 J/g (ice → water at 0°C)
  • Latent Heat of Vaporisation: 2260 J/g (water → steam at 100°C)
  • Evaporation factors: Temperature · Surface area · Wind speed · Humidity
  • Boiling point of water: 100°C (373 K) at 1 atm
Chapter Overview

What this chapter covers

Chapter 1 of NCERT Class 9 Science establishes the foundational understanding of matter — anything that has mass and occupies space. The chapter opens by demonstrating that matter is made up of tiny particles which are in constant motion, have spaces between them, and attract each other. These three properties together explain a wide range of everyday physical phenomena.

The bulk of the chapter covers the three classical states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas — comparing them on shape, volume, compressibility, diffusion, and the strength of intermolecular forces. A central theme is interconversion of states: how adding or removing heat causes matter to change from one state to another, and why the temperature remains constant during a change of state due to latent heat. The concepts of melting point, boiling point, sublimation, and the effect of pressure on state changes are all covered.

Board questions consistently focus on evaporation — its distinction from boiling, the factors that affect its rate, and why it causes a cooling effect. The chapter also introduces plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate as additional states, though these are descriptive and not numerically tested at Class 9 level. Understanding this chapter is essential groundwork for Class 9 Chapter 2 (Is Matter Around Us Pure?) and Class 10 Chemistry.

Topics

What's inside Chapter 1

As per NCERT Class 9 Science (CBSE syllabus)

Topic 1
Physical Nature of Matter
Matter is made of particles; particles are tiny, in constant motion, and have intermolecular spaces and forces of attraction. Evidence from diffusion, Brownian motion, and dissolution experiments.
Topic 2
Characteristics of Particles of Matter
Particles of matter have spaces between them, attract each other, and are in continuous random motion. Temperature affects speed of movement. Diffusion in gases and liquids as evidence.
Topic 3
States of Matter
Comparison of solids, liquids, and gases on shape, volume, compressibility, fluidity, and intermolecular forces. Introduction to plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate as additional states.
Topic 4
Interconversion of States & Evaporation
Effect of temperature and pressure on state changes. Melting point, boiling point, sublimation, latent heat. Evaporation as a surface phenomenon, its cooling effect, and factors affecting its rate.
Connections

How this chapter fits in

Useful for setting question difficulty and cross-chapter papers.

Builds on
Class 8 · Materials
Basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases from primary science
Class 8 · Physical & Chemical Changes
Reversible changes, melting, boiling, evaporation as physical changes
Chapter 1 Matter in Our
Surroundings
Leads to
Ch 2 · Is Matter Around Us Pure?
Mixtures, solutions, separation techniques — built on particle theory
Class 10 · Chemical Reactions & Equations
States of reactants and products, physical vs chemical change
Board Blueprint

Marks & question-type breakdown

Typical pattern based on CBSE Class 9 Science board papers from the last five years.

Question type Marks Typical count What's usually tested
MCQ / Objective 1 1–2 Identify state of matter, boiling/melting point, or evaporation factor
Very Short Answer 2 1 Define latent heat, sublimation, or distinguish evaporation from boiling
Short Answer 3 1 Compare states of matter in tabular form, or explain interconversion with a diagram
Long Answer 5 0–1 Describe factors affecting evaporation with examples, or explain effect of pressure on state of matter
Total (approximate) 5–6 3–4 Weightage varies across paper sets and years
Sample Questions

8 sample questions — generated by MarksZen AI

Aligned to CBSE Class 9 Science Chapter 1. Covers all question types across Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty.

Q1 Easy 1 mark MCQ
Which of the following is an example of sublimation? (a) Ice melting to form water (b) Water evaporating from a lake (c) Camphor disappearing on a plate (d) Steam condensing on a cold surface
Q2 Easy 1 mark MCQ
The boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure is: (a) 0°C (b) 37°C (c) 100°C (d) 273°C
Q3 Medium 2 marks Short Answer
Define latent heat of vaporisation. Why does steam at 100°C cause more severe burns than boiling water at 100°C?
Q4 Medium 2 marks Short Answer
Distinguish between evaporation and boiling. Give one point of difference related to the temperature at which each process occurs.
Q5 Medium 3 marks Short Answer
Compare solids, liquids, and gases on the basis of: (i) shape, (ii) volume, and (iii) compressibility. Present your answer in a tabular form.
Q6 Hard 4 marks Short Answer
Explain with a labelled diagram how the interconversion of the three states of matter takes place. Name the processes involved when: (i) Solid changes to liquid (ii) Liquid changes to gas (iii) Gas changes directly to solid (iv) Solid changes directly to gas
Q7 Hard 4 marks Word Problem
Riya spreads wet clothes on a clothesline on a hot, dry, windy day. Her friend Priya does the same on a humid, calm day. Whose clothes dry faster? Using four factors that affect the rate of evaporation, explain why one set of conditions is more favourable for drying than the other.
Q8 Hard 5 marks Long Answer
Answer the following: (i) What happens to the temperature of a substance while it is melting, even though heat is being continuously supplied? Explain this observation using the concept of latent heat of fusion. (ii) Why does a desert cooler cool better on a hot, dry day than on a humid day? (iii) Acetone is placed on your palm. What do you feel? Give the scientific reason.
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Previous Year Questions

From CBSE board examinations

Actual questions from past Class 9 Science board papers — Matter in Our Surroundings chapter.

Board 20223 marks
Explain why a liquid has a fixed volume but no fixed shape. Also explain why gases can be compressed easily while solids cannot be. (CBSE SA-I 2022)
Board 20232 marks
Why does the temperature remain constant during the melting of a solid even though heat is being supplied continuously? (CBSE 2023)
Board 20203 marks
List any three factors that affect the rate of evaporation. How does each factor influence the rate? Explain with the help of daily life examples. (CBSE 2020)
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FAQ

Questions teachers ask

How many marks does Matter in Our Surroundings carry in the CBSE Class 9 Science exam? +
Typically 5–6 marks across 2–3 questions — one 1-mark objective, one 2-mark short answer on evaporation or states of matter, and one 3-mark question on interconversion of states or latent heat. This chapter is part of the 'Matter — Its Nature and Behaviour' unit, which carries significant weightage in the Class 9 Science annual examination.
What is the difference between evaporation and boiling, and how does it appear in board exams? +
Evaporation is a surface phenomenon that occurs at all temperatures, while boiling is a bulk phenomenon that occurs only at the boiling point. Board questions typically ask students to list factors affecting evaporation (temperature, surface area, wind speed, humidity) or explain why evaporation causes cooling. These are common 2–3 mark questions in CBSE Class 9 Science papers.
What is latent heat and which types does the CBSE Class 9 syllabus cover? +
Latent heat is the heat energy absorbed or released during a change of state at constant temperature. NCERT Class 9 covers two types: Latent Heat of Fusion (solid to liquid, 334 J/g for ice) and Latent Heat of Vaporisation (liquid to gas, 2260 J/g for water). Board questions often ask why 0°C water and 0°C ice feel different despite being the same temperature — the answer lies in latent heat.
What are the characteristics used to compare the three states of matter in board exams? +
Board questions compare solids, liquids, and gases on: definite shape, definite volume, compressibility, diffusion rate, intermolecular forces, and intermolecular spaces. Tabular comparison questions (3 marks) are very common. Plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate are also mentioned in NCERT as additional states but are not tested in depth at Class 9 level.
How do I generate a custom question paper for Matter in Our Surroundings using MarksZen? +
Sign up for a free MarksZen account, choose CBSE Class 9 Science, select Chapter 1 (Matter in Our Surroundings), set your preferred question-type mix (MCQ, short answer, long answer) and total marks — the AI generates a complete board-aligned paper with answer key in under 2 minutes, ready for PDF export.