Solid, Liquid, and Gas
Learning Objectives
- Define, solid, liquid, and gas.
- Explain differences among these three phases of matter.
Why is the state of water different in each picture?
Why is the state of water different in each picture?
Water can take many forms. At low temperatures (below 0°C), it is a solid. When at “normal” temperatures (between 0°C and 100°C), it is a liquid. While at temperatures above 100°C, water is a gas (steam).
The state the water is in depends upon the temperature. Each state (solid, liquid, and gas) has its own unique set of physical properties.
Matter and Its States
Matter typically exists in one of three states: solid , liquid , or gas . The state a given substance exhibits is also a physical property. Some substances exist as gases at room temperature (oxygen and carbon dioxide), while others, like water and mercury metal, exist as liquids. Most metals exist as solids at room temperature. All substances can exist in any of these three states. In addition to existing in one of the three states, matter can also undergo a change of state. A change of state occurs when matter is converted from one state to another state for example when a liquid is converted to a gas or a solid is converted to a liquid.
Note: Technically speaking a fourth state of matter called plasma exists, but it does not naturally occur on earth, so we will omit it from our study here.
Liquid
Liquids have the following characteristics:
- no definite shape (takes the shape of its container)
- has definite volume
- particles are free to move over each other, but are still attracted to each other
A familiar liquid is mercury metal. Mercury is an anomaly. It is the only metal we know of that is liquid at room temperature. Mercury also has an ability to stick to itself (surface tension) – a property all liquids exhibit. Mercury has a relatively high surface tension, which makes it very unique. Here you see mercury in its common liquid form.
Figure 2.6
Mercury.
If we were to heat liquid mercury to its boiling point of 357°C, and under the right pressure conditions, we would notice all particles in the liquid state go into the gas state.
Gas
Gases have the following characteristics:
- no definite shape (takes the shape of its container)
- no definite volume
- particles move in random motion with little or no attraction to each other
- highly compressible
Solid
Solids are defined by the following characteristics:
- definite shape (rigid)
- definite volume
- particles vibrate around fixed axes
If we were to cool liquid mercury to its freezing point of -39°C, and under the right pressure conditions, we would notice all of the liquid particles would go into the solid state.
The video below shows this process.
As you can see in the video, mercury can be solidified when its temperature is brought to its freezing point. However, when returned to room temperature conditions, mercury does not exist in solid state for long, and returns back to its more common liquid form.
Summary
- Three states of matter exist – solid, liquid, and gas.
- Solids have a definite shape and volume.
- Liquids have a definite volume, but take the shape of the container.
- Gases have no definite shape or volume.
Practice
Questions
Use the web site to answer the following questions.
- Which material is a gas at room temperature (25°C)?
- Which material is a solid at room temperature?
- Which material is a liquid at room temperature?
- What happens to the motion of the particles as you increase the temperature?
- What happens to the motion of the particles as you decrease the temperature?
Review
Questions
- How many states of matter are there?
- What is a solid?
- What is a liquid?
- What is a gas?
Glossary
- solid: Has a definite shape and volume.
- liquid: Has a definite volume, but take the shape of the container.
- gas: Has no definite shape or volume.
- change of state: When matter is converted from one of the three states (example: solid, liquid, or gas) to another state.
