States of Matter

Solids

• Have definite volume, shape and mass

• The particles can only move a little

• The particles vibrate back and forth, but strong forces hold them in fixed positions

Liquids

• Have definite volume and mass but no shape

• The particles can move around more freely than in solids and therefore take the shape of their container

• The particles are held together by strong attractions to each other so it occupies a definite volume

Gasses

• Definite mass but no definite volume and no definitive shape

• Fill whatever container they are in• The attractions among the particles are so weak

that individual particles are quite far apart, with spaces among them

• The particles are moving constantly and randomly in all directions and spread throughout their container no matter what it’s shape and volume