Complete information on the properties of solids, liquids and gases

Properties of Solids:

The way the molecules are arranged hi a solid, liquid or gas, determines its properties. The molecules in solids are tightly packed and they attract each other strongly. Therefore, solids have the following properties.

1. They are rigid.

2: They retain their shape.

3. They have a definite volume.

4. They are incompressible. Sugar, salt and iron are solids at room temperature.

Properties of Liquids:

The molecules in liquids are loosely arranged and they experience weaker forces of attraction as compared to solids. They can move more freely and can, in fact, flow. Therefore, all liquids are fluids. They have the following properties.

1. Liquids have no shape of their own. They acquire the shape of the vessel in which they are kept.

2. They have a definite volume. Water, mercury and milk are liquids at room temperature.

Properties of Gases:

The molecules in gases are far apart from one another and the forces of attraction between them are very weak. Thus, the gas molecules have maximum freedom of movement. Their properties are as follows.

1. They have no surface and no volume.

2. They can flow like liquids. So, gases are also fluids.

3. The presence of huge intermolecular spaces makes gases highly compressible.