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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

What are the Structure and Properties of
a Solid, Liquid and Gas?


What is the Structure of a Solid?

A solid has a regular arrangement of particles
(atoms, ions or molecules). The particles are close
together and cannot move around so the shape of a solid
is fixed. A solid is said to have long range order which means
that the regular arrangement of particles keeps
repeating itself over and over for a huge number of particles.

What are the Properties of a Solid?

A solid cannot be compressed because the particles are
close together. If a solid is heated its volume will increase
as the temperature increases. This happens because the
particles vibrate more and move a little further apart
causing a decrease in density. A solid has a fixed shape.


What is the Structure of a Liquid?

A liquid has an arrangement of particles that are close together
(like a solid) but the particles are free to move because the
force of attraction between the particles is weaker than it is
in a solid. A liquid is said to have short range order
which means that the arrangement of particles
only repeats itself for a small number of particles.

What are the Properties of a Liquid?

A liquid will flow to take the shape of its container.
If a liquid is heated its volume changes with temperature
in the same way as a solid (see above). A liquid cannot
be compressed because the particles are close together.


What is the Structure of a Gas?

A gas has no order, its particles are arranged at random.
The particles in a gas are so far apart that there is
no force of attraction between them. The particles are
unaware of each others existence unless they collide.

What are the Properties of a Gas?

A gas will fill the whole volume of its container.
A gas is easily compressed. The speed of the particles in a
gas increases as the temperature increases. This causes
the pressure of a gas to increase as the temperature increases.

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