States of Matter
States of Matter
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.Matter exists in different forms, called states of matter.
The main states of matter are:
Solid
Liquid
Gas
(Some advanced states like plasma exist, but we’ll focus on the main three.)
1. Solid:
Definition:
A solid has a fixed shape and fixed volume.
Characteristics:
Particles are very close together
Strong force of attraction
Particles only vibrate in place
Examples:
Stone, book, ice, pencil
Fun Fact:
Ice is a solid form of water
💧 2. Liquid
Definition:
A liquid has a fixed volume but no fixed shape.
Characteristics:
Takes the shape of its container
Particles are close but can slide past each other
Can flow easily
Examples:
Water, milk, oil, juice
Fun Fact:
Water can exist as solid, liquid, and gas
3. Gas
Definition:
A gas has no fixed shape and no fixed volume.
Characteristics:
Particles are far apart
Very weak force of attraction
Spreads in all directions
Examples:
Air, oxygen, carbon dioxide
Fun Fact:
Air takes up space even though we can’t see it
Changes in States of Matter:
Change From → To Melting Solid → Liquid Freezing Liquid → Solid Evaporation Liquid → Gas Condensation gas → Liquid