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