Solids, liquids, andgases are the three main, or fundamental phases ofmatter. Each one has a different density and adifferent level of stability. What determines thestability of each phase is the bond between it’satoms.
The tighter the bond between it’s atoms themore stable that phase of matter is. Solids are themost stable form of matter, followed by liquids,and then gases. Solids have a definite shape anddo not take the shape of their container. Liquidsdo not have any definite shape and do take theshape of their container, the same is true withgases. Once again it is the bond between theatoms of liquids, and gases that make it have nodefinite shape. The first phase of matter is solids.
Solids are the most stable form of matter. Solidsare more stable than liquids and gases. One typeof solid is a Crystalline solid. The particles in acrystalline solid have a regular repeating pattern. The types of crystalline solids are metals, alloys,salts, valence crystals, molecular crystals,polymers, and plastics. Most elementscrystalize asmetals.
Some solids can also be frozen liquids. The atoms in a solid are tightly bonded whichmeans it has a definiteshape. The second phase ofmatter is liquids. Liquids have no definite shape.
Liquids are less orderly than solids but moreorderly than gases. Liquids can flow very easily. Liquids also take the shape of their container. Most liquids are very good conductors. Mostliquids are also good solvents.
Some solids float inliquids depending on their density. If the solid isless dense than the liquid then it floats on theliquids surface. If the solid is more dense than theliquid then it sinks in the liquids. For example anegg normally sinks in water because it’s density ishigher than water’s density. When you add salt tothe water the density of the water becomes higherthan the egg’s density so the egg floats.
The thirdand final fundamental phase of matter is gas. Gases are the least orderly of the three phases ofmatter. Gases take the shape of their containerbecause of the very weak bond between theiratoms. Gases are also very low in density. Theaverage gas is 1000 times less than that of theaverage liquid.
The volume of gas varies withmany things including temperature and pressure. These are explained in Charles’s and Boyle’s laws. Boyle’s law states that the volume of gas variesindefinitely with the pressure applied to it. Charles’s law states that the volume of gas variesindefinitely with the temperature. Another theory isthe kinetic molecular theory.
The kinetic moleculartheory states that any substance composed ofparticles is in constant motion. This is especiallytrue with gases. Gases have been studied sinceantiquity but were only understood in the 19thcentury. These are the three fundamental phases ofmatter. Every substance on earth is one of thesethree phases.
Some examples of solids are glass,plastic, and wood. Some examples of liquids arewater, soft drinks, and acid. Some examples ofgases are oxygen, nitrogen, and helium.Category: Science
