Chemistry – States of matter - Solids, liquids and gases | e-Consult

Solids:

• Fixed shape and volume
• High density
• Particles are closely packed together in a regular arrangement
• Particles vibrate about fixed positions
• Generally incompressible

Liquids:

• Fixed volume but variable shape (takes the shape of the container)
• High density (generally, but less than solids)
• Particles are close together but not in a regular arrangement
• Particles can move past each other
• Slightly compressible

Gases:

• Variable shape and volume (fills the entire container)
• Low density
• Particles are widely spaced and move randomly
• Particles move rapidly and randomly
• Highly compressible