Askiitians Tutor Team
Last Activity: 5 Months ago
Shape and volume are key properties used to classify solids, liquids, and gases.
Solids:
Shape: Solids have a definite shape, meaning they maintain their shape regardless of the container they are in. This is because the particles in solids are tightly packed and held together by strong intermolecular forces.
Volume: Solids also have a definite volume. Their particles are closely packed and do not easily compress, so the volume of a solid remains constant under normal conditions.
Liquids:
Shape: Liquids do not have a definite shape. They take the shape of the container they are in, as the particles are free to move past each other but are still close enough to maintain cohesion.
Volume: Liquids have a definite volume, like solids. They do not easily compress, so their volume remains relatively constant under normal conditions.
Gases:
Shape: Gases do not have a definite shape. They completely fill the container they are in, taking its shape. This is because the particles in gases are highly energetic and move freely, with weak intermolecular forces between them.
Volume: Gases also do not have a definite volume. They expand to fill the entire volume of the container they are in, and they can be compressed easily due to the large distances between particles.
In summary, solids have a definite shape and volume, liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, and gases have neither a definite shape nor volume. These properties arise due to the arrangement and behavior of particles in each state of matter.