How do you decide whether a sample of matter is a solid

Subject : Chemistry

Question: How do you decide whether a sample of matter is a solid, liquid, or gas?

Expert Verified Solution:

To determine whether a sample of matter is a solid, liquid, or gas, you should consider the following properties:

1. Shape and Volume:

Solid: Has a definite shape and a definite volume. Solids do not conform to the shape of their container and maintain their own shape regardless of the container.

Liquid: Has a definite volume but no definite shape. Liquids take the shape of their container but do not expand to fill it.

Gas: Has no definite shape and no definite volume. Gases expand to fill the shape and volume of their container.

2. Particle Arrangement and Movement:

Solid: Particles are closely packed together in a fixed, orderly arrangement and only vibrate in place. This structure gives solids a rigid shape.

Liquid: Particles are close together but not in a fixed arrangement, allowing them to flow and move past one another. This gives liquids a fixed volume but not a fixed shape.

Gas: Particles are far apart and move freely and rapidly in all directions. This allows gases to fill any shape or volume.

3. Compressibility:

Solid: Not easily compressible due to the closely packed particles.

Liquid: Not easily compressible because the particles are still fairly close together.

Gas: Highly compressible because the particles are widely spaced.

4. Density:

Solid: Typically has high density because particles are closely packed.

Liquid: Generally less dense than solids (except for certain cases like water) but more dense than gases.

Gas: Has low density because particles are widely spaced.

5. Response to Temperature and Pressure Changes:

Solid: Expands slightly when heated and contracts when cooled, but does not change shape easily.

Liquid: Expands more than solids when heated and contracts when cooled. It flows and adapts to the shape of its container.

Gas: Expands significantly when heated and contracts significantly when cooled. Gases can be easily compressed by increasing pressure or expanded by decreasing pressure.

By examining these properties, you can determine the state of matter of a sample. For instance, if the matter retains a fixed shape and volume regardless of the container, it is likely a solid. If it conforms to the shape of its container but has a fixed volume, it is a liquid. If it fills both the shape and volume of its container and can be compressed easily, it is a gas.