Physical and Chemical Properties of Solids

Every substance around us is made up of matter. Matter are properties that occupy space. The matter is present in different states depending upon the particle composition and molecular interaction. There are four states of matter, namely- solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. 

One of the basic states of matter is Solid. The solids are called solids due to the arrangement of the molecular substance in them. As the forming particles are packed too tightly, they form a rigid base that prevents the passage of any other physical particles or substances to settle there. The intermolecular attraction is very high among these molecules, which makes them pack tightly together. 

The molecular particles of the solids contain the least kinetic energy between them. The solids are the most stable particulate matter in the environment. The particles are held together by strong intermolecular forces like dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and hydrogen bonding. Solids are highly incompressible and have the highest density as compared to other molecular particles. Due to their highest intermolecular forces, they resist every kind of force that is applied to them. 

Physical Properties of Matter

The solids possess their properties based upon the arrangement of the particles in them. As the particles are tightly packed, and the spacing is highly tight, it holds certain properties that make them physically different from other particles and other states of matter.

 The physical properties of solids are:

1. Solids possess a definite shape and volume. It is because the particles in the solids have strong, attractive forces between them. The particles in the solids vibrate around a fixed location, which gives them a perfect shape. As the particles vibrate around and stay around the same location, they carry a specific particular area of the matter for which they have a fixed volume.
2. Solids are incompressible and rigid in nature. This rigidity nature of solids is derived from the high and strong intermolecular attraction that the particles hold between them. The molecules that make a matter solid are highly packed, which makes them rigid and incompressible.
3. Solids are denser than other forms of matter. This also is due to the molecular arrangement and the strong intermolecular forces that the particles hold between themselves.  The density of physical properties depends upon the mass and volume possessed by the physical matter.
4. Solids hold a stronger intermolecular force between their particles, which gives them a perfect and rigid shape and structure.
5. The diffusion process in solids is nearly negligible. The molecules are so densely and compactly packed that there rises no chance of getting placed or diffused into another solid particle. The diffusion process is extremely slow in solids.
6. The compactly packed particles require high energy to bring a distortion among them. Due to strong intermolecular forces, the solids have a higher rate of melting and boiling points.

The physical properties that the solids hold are regulated by the intermolecular forces of attraction the particles hold between themselves. The intermolecular distance between the particles in solids is very short, which is why the particles hold each other very strongly among themselves. Solids are highly rigid and stable in nature due to the factor of having strong intermolecular forces. 

Chemical Properties of Solids

Solids, unlike other physical matters, possess a different structure regulated by molecular positioning. They are categorized by their structural rigidity and the resistance to change shape or volume. Unlike other states of matter, the molecules in solids do not flow or diffuse among themselves to turn into any other particles. Due to the strong intermolecular forces, they hold a rigid structure which is affected by the chemical properties also. 

The physical properties of the matter are the outcome of the inner chemical changes or chemical properties that the particles hold. 

1. The structural rigidity of the solid matters is due to the presence of strong intermolecular forces between the particles. This force of attraction generates due to the grip that the molecules hold between each other. This strong molecular bond is formed due to the presence of short distances among the particles of the molecule.
2. The high melting and boiling point, which is a physical property, is the outcome of the chemical dispersion that takes place between the particles due to the outer physical conditions that are applied to them. The solids take a higher or longer time period to melt and also boil. It is regulated by the fact that the positioning and structural elasticity in solids is very less, resulting in higher melting and boiling points.
3. The definite size, shape, and volume of the particles are due to the strong hydrogen-to-hydrogen, strong intermolecular forces of attraction, and strong dipole-dipole attraction that is present between them. 

Conclusion 

The chemical properties and physical properties are directly proportional to each other. The presence of one regulates the outcome of the other. The basic property that regulates the existence of the solids is its strong intermolecular forces of attraction among the particles.