science

• Substances can exist in three states of matter - solid, liquid and gas
• All substances are made from particles, and the forces between the particles are different in solids, liquids and gases
• The arrangement, movement and spacing of the particles explain many of the properties of solids, liquids and gases
• Solids


  • Particles are closely packed in a regular arrangement, held in fixed positions by strong forces, can only vibrate
  • Have a fixed shape and cannot flow
• Liquids


  • Particles are closely packed but randomly arranged, held by weaker forces, can move from place to place
  • Do not have a fixed shape and can flow
• Gases


  • Particles are widely spaced, have enough energy to overcome attractive forces, move quickly in random directions
  • Do not have a fixed shape or volume, can expand to fill their container, can be compressed
• Solids and liquids cannot be easily compressed, but gases can
• Solid


  A substance that maintains a rigid shape, has particles in fixed positions, and does not flow like liquids or gases
• Liquid


  A substance that takes the shape of its container, has particles in random arrangement, and can flow and change shape
• Gas


  A substance that takes the shape of its container, has particles moving freely in random directions, and does not vibrate