Question

What are the characteristics of the different states of matter?

Answer 1

To solve this question, we first need to know what it matters. Any substance that occupies space and has a mass is known as matter. Since everything is made up of atoms and subatomic particles, they are also considered to be matter.

Complete answer:
Now, the three fundamental states of matter are solid, liquid and gas.
Let us understand their characteristics.

| Characteristic| Solid| Liquid| Gas
---|---|---|---|---
1.| Shape| Have definite shape and volume| Do not have a definite shape or volume and take the shape of the container in which they are stored| No shape
2.| Rigidity| High| Rigidity in between solids and gases| None
3.| Compressibility| Negligible| Low| Very high
4.| Fluidity| Does not flow.| Flow from a higher to a lower level.| Flows in all directions.
5.| Packing of particles| Tightly packed| In between solids and gases| Loosely packed
6.| Kinetic energy| Least| In between solids and gases| Maximum
7.| Density| High| In between solids and gases| Low

Note:
The processes of changes in different states of matter takes place as follows:
When a solid substance like camphor directly converts into a gaseous state upon absorbing energy the process is known as sublimation. When a solid substance like ice converts into a liquid state like water upon absorbing energy the process is known as melting.
When a liquid substance like acetone converts into a gaseous state upon absorbing energy the process is known as evaporation. When a liquid substance like water converts into a solid state like ice upon releasing energy the process is known as freezing.
When a gaseous substance like vapor converts into a liquid state like water upon releasing energy the process is known as condensation. When a gaseous substance like vapor converts into a solid state like frost upon releasing energy the process is known as a deposition.