Solids

• Solids have a?fixed?volume and shape and they have a high density
• The atoms?vibrate?in position but can’t change location
• The particles are packed very closely together in a fixed and regular pattern

Liquids

• Liquids also have a fixed volume but adopt the shape of the container
• They are generally less dense than solids (an exception is water), but much denser than gases
• The particles?move?and?slide?past each other which is why liquids adopt the shape of the container and also why they are able to flow freely

Gases?

• Gases do not have a fixed volume, and, like liquids, take up the shape of the container
• Gases have a very low density
• Since there is a lot of space between the particles, gases can be compressed into a much smaller volume
• The particles are far apart and move randomly and quickly (around 500 m/s) in all directions
• They?collide?with each other and with the sides of the container (this is how?pressure?is created inside a can of gas)

Summary of the Properties of Solids, Liquids and Gases