Gases, liquids and solids are all made up of atoms, molecules, and/or ions, but the behaviors of these particles differ in the three phases. The following figure illustrates the microscopic differences.
Microscopic view of a gas.Microscopic view of a liquid.Microscopic view of a solid.
Note that:
- Particles in a:
- gas are well separated with no regular arrangement.
- liquid are close together with no regular arrangement.
- solid are tightly packed, usually in a regular pattern.
- Particles in a:
- gas vibrate and move freely at high speeds.
- liquid vibrate, move about, and slide past each other.
- solid vibrate (jiggle) but generally do not move from place to place.
Liquids and solids are often referred to ascondensed phasesbecause the particles are very close together.
The following table summarizes properties of gases, liquids, and solids and identifies the microscopic behavior responsible for each property.
Some Characteristics of Gases, Liquids and Solids and the Microscopic Explanation for the Behaviorgasliquidsolidassumes the shape and volume of its containerparticles can move past one anotherassumes the shape of the part of the container which it occupiesparticles can move/slide past one anotherretains a fixed volume and shaperigid - particles locked into placecompressiblelots of free space between particlesnot easily compressiblelittle free space between particlesnot easily compressiblelittle free space between particlesflows easilyparticles can move past one anotherflows easilyparticles can move/slide past one anotherdoes not flow easilyrigid - particles cannot move/slide past one another
