3.1.2 Solids, Liquids & Gases

Solid

• Arrangement:
• Regular arrangement
• Fixed shape
• Particle Movement:
• Particles vibrate around a fixed point/position
• Compressibility:
• Hard to compress

Liquid

• Arrangement:
• Particles close together
• Takes the shape of the container
• Particle Movement:
• Particles can move (flow)
• More kinetic energy (KE) than solid
• Compressibility:
• Hard to compress

Gas

• Arrangement:
• Particles widely spread
• Fills the shape of the container
• Particle Movement:
• Particles move quickly and randomly
• Most kinetic energy (KE)
• Compressibility:
• Extremely easy to compress

Table of States of Matter Characteristics

State of Matter	Gas	Liquid	Solid
Shape and Volume	Assumes the shape and volume of its container	Assumes the shape of the part of the container which it occupies	Retains a fixed volume and shape
Particle Movement	Particles can move past one another	Particles can move/slide past one another	Rigid • particles locked into place
Compressibility	Compressible, lots of free space between particles	Not easily compressible, little free space between particles	Not easily compressible, little free space between particles
Flow	Flows easily, particles can move past one another	Flows easily, particles can move/slide past one another	Does not flow easily, rigid • particles cannot move/slide past one another