Properties of Solids, Liquids, Gases

Last updated at April 16, 2024 by Teachoo

Solid, Liquid and Gas-Teachoo.jpg

SOLIDS	LIQUIDS	GASES
Particles are closely bound	Particles are close to each other, but not as much as solids	Particles are much far apart compared to solids and liquids
Fixed shape	No fixed shape, they take the shape of the container	No fixed shape, fill the entire space they are enclosed in
Fixed volume	Fixed volume	No fixed volume
Do not flow like liquids and gases	Flow easily as particles slide over each other	Flow easily as the particles can move easily from one place to another
Maintain their form and occupy only as much space as their size	Do not fill the container completely as they have greater density than gases	Fill the container fully due to their low density
Cannot be compressed easily	Cannot be compressed easily as the particles are relatively close to each other	Can be compressed easily as they have low density

Let's look at Properties of each one by one

Properties of Solids

Solids have fixed shape and fixed volume
Size of solids do not change and it occupies fixed space
Particles of Solid are closely bound
There is higher force of attraction between particles
Solids do not take shape of container like liquids
Example - If ice is put in a container, it does not take shape of container
Solids do not flow like liquids
Liquids flow from one place to another. However, solids have fixed shape and do not flow or move
Particles of solid cannot be compressed easily

Let's do some questions, shall we?

Rubber band changes its shape. Then why is it called solid?

Answer

Rubber band changes its shape only on stretching (when a force is applied on it)
When force is removed, it retains its original shape
Hence, we can say that rubber band has fixed shape
Also, it satisfies all other properties of solids (it has fixed volume, it does not flow like liquids and do not take shape of container)

Salt and Sugar do not appear to have fixed shape. Why is it still a solid?

Answer

Sugar/Salt are made up of tiny crystals
Shape of these crystals are fixed
Hence these are called solids
Sugar/Salt appear to take shape of container where they are kept but this is because of their small size, they do not actually change shape

Liquids have fixed volume, but not fixed shape
They take shape of container they are kept in
Particles of Liquids are closely to each other (but not as close as solids)
Liquid does not fill container completely like gases
(This is because particles of liquids have higher density than gases and are close to each other)
Liquids are able to flow easily as particles are able to slide over each other

Gases have no fixed volume, no fixed shape
Particles of Liquids are far from each other
Gases fill the container completely like gases
(This is because particles of liquids have higher density than gases and are close to each other)
Gases flow easily as particles are free to flow easily from one place to another
Particles of gas can be compressed easily because of their low density