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Describe the properties of solids liquids and gases.

Gases, Liquids and Solids 

  • Gases, liquids and solids are al made up of atoms, molecules and/or ions,  but the behaviours of these particles differ in the three phases

Particles in a:

  • Gas are well separated with no regular arrangement
    • gas vibrate and move freely at high speeds
  • Liquid are close together with no regular arrangement
    • liquid vibrate, move about, and slide past each other 
  • Solid are tightly packed, usually in a regular pattern
    • solid vibrate (jiggle) but generally do not move from place to place

Liquids and solids are often referred to as condensed phases because the particles are very close together

Gas:

  • assumes the shape and volume of its container  - particles can move past one another
  • compressible - lots of free space between particles 
  • flow easily - particles can move past one another 

Liquid:

  • assumes the shape of the part of the container which it occupies - particles can move/slide past one another 
  • not easily compressible - little free space between particles 
  • flow easily - particles can move/slide past one another 

Solid:

  • retains a fixed volume and shape - rigid: particles locked into place
  • not easily compressible - little free space between particles 
  • does not flow easily - rigid: particles cannot move/slide past one another