Three States of Matter with Their Characteristics

Matter has a countable mass, occupies space and has volume. The matter is usually of five types. However, only three are considered to be the prime types of matter. These three types of matter are Solids, Liquids, and Gases. These are divided as per the arrangement of particles in them. These are also termed states of matter. 

Here’s a brief description of the three states of matter or types of matter. 

1. First State of Matter – Solids

Solids: These are considered to be compounds that have compact structures. The particles are well packed and do not have much space between them. Thus solids have a definite shape and volume. 

Solids are usually hard to touch and are strong compared to liquids and gases. They are also rigid in nature, and strong intermolecular attraction forces are present between the particles.

They have a low level of thermal expansion compared to liquids and gases. 

Short Definition: Solids can be considered as the states of matter in which particles are closely packed. And they have a definite shape and volume, along with rigidity.

Characteristics:

• Definite volume

• Definite shape

• Particles will be vibrating around some fixed axes

Examples: Ice, wood, iron, table salt, most metals, sugar, rocks, etc.

2. Second State of Matter – Liquids

Liquids are considered the second state or type of matter, and they are not as rigid as solids. They do not have a definite shape, but the volume is definite (it’s definite only if temperature and pressure are constant). So, how does a liquid exist without an actual shape?

Liquids take the shape of the container they are held in. This means liquids will have the same shape, size, and volume as that particular container, whatever the container it is.

Molecules are closely packed, but the intermolecular force of attraction is weaker than that of Solids. At the same time, this force is greater than that of gases. Thus, the density of liquids is comparatively higher than gases and lower than solids.

Short Definition: Liquids are fluids that take shape and volume of the container and are nearly incompressible in nature.

Characteristics:

• No definite shape and takes the shape of the container

• Has a definite volume, but only till the temperature and pressure are constant

• Particles are freely moving, and at the same time, they have some attractive forces between them

• Almost non-compressible in nature

Examples: Water, oil, hydrochloric acid, urine, blood, milk, wine, petrol, diesel, etc.

3. Third State of Matter – Gases

Gases are the states of matter that have no shape and structure. They are very freely moving in nature, and the intermolecular forces are almost negligible.

Gases do not have a specific shape, and they are just like liquids in taking the shape of the container and can expand until they fill the container. 

As they are free to move, their motion is always unpredictable, and the kinetic energy of these molecules is pretty high.

Gases are also considered to be fluids but are compressible in nature. And the thermal expansion of gases is much higher than that of solids and liquids. 

Short Definition: Gases are the type of matter that is very free moving and does not have a shape or volume. And the intermolecular forces are significantly less or completely zero in them.

Characteristics:

• They do not have a definite shape and take the shape of the container the same as that of liquids

• They also don’t have a definite volume

• Particles move in a very random fashion and will be hitting each other

• They are easily compressible 

Examples: Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, all the Noble gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc.

Solids v/s Liquids v/s Gases

The below table shows the difference between three states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases).

Here’s a pictorial representation of the arrangement of molecules in Solids, Liquids, and Gases.

Apart from these three states of matter, there is another fundamental state of matter called Plasma. Plasma’s heat is so intense that the electrons are torn from the atoms, resulting in an ionised gas. It accounts for more than 99 percent of the visible universe.

Apart from these four fundamental states of matter, the fifth state of matter is Bose-Einstein condensate. This is an artificial state of matter where the particles of the matter stop behaving as an independent.

Summarising

Solids: Solids can be considered as the states of matter in which particles are closely packed. And they have a definite shape and volume, along with rigidity.

Liquids: Liquids are the fluids that take the shape and volume of the container and are nearly incompressible in nature.

Gases: Gases are the type of matter that is very free moving and does not have a shape or volume. And the intermolecular forces are significantly less or completely zero in them.

Conclusion

Even though there are five types of matter; solids, liquids, and gases are the three states of matter which we often come across in our day-to-day life. 

And we have tried to place all the possible basic information about these three types of matter. Hope that this post helped you learn about the types of matter and their characteristics.