Solids, Liquids & Gases
- Matter can exist in one of three different states: solid, liquid, or gas
Solids
- In a solid:
- The particles are closely packed
- The particles vibrate about fixed positions
- Solids have:
- A definite shape (they are rigid)
- A definite volume
Liquids
- In a liquid:
- The particles are closely packed
- The particles can flow over one another
- Liquids have:
- No definite shape – they are able to flow and will take the shape of a container
- A definite volume
Gases
- In a gas:
- The particles are far apart
- The particles move randomly
- Gases have:
- No definite shape – they will take the shape of their container
- No fixed volume – if placed in an evacuated container they will expand to fill the container
- Gases are highly compressible, this is because:
- There are large gaps between the particles
- It is easier to push the particles closer together than in solids or liquids
Diagram showing the three states of matter in terms of shape and volume
Solid, Liquid, Gas Summary Table