Question

Tabulate the differences in the characteristics of states of matter.

Answer 1

	Property	Solid	Liquid	Gas
1.	Shape and volume	They have a definite shape as well as a definite volume.	They have a definite volume but no definite shape.	They have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume.
2.	Compressibility	Solids are completely incompressible.	Liquids are almost incompressible.	Gases are highly compressible.
3.	Rigidity/Fluidity	Solids possess rigidity.	Liquids can flow, therefore they possess fluidity which is lower than that of gases.	Gases flow more easily than liquids and thus, have the highest fluidity.
4.	Kinetic energy	Their particles have minimum kinetic energy.	Their particles have kinetic energy higher than those of solids.	Their particles have the highest kinetic energy.
5.	Density	They have high-density.	Their density is lower than those of solids but much higher than those of gases.	They generally have very low densities.
6.	Diffusion	They normally do not show the property of diffusion although some rare examples of diffusion of one solid into another are known.	They show the property of diffusion. As a result, solids, liquids, and gases can all diffuse into liquids.	They diffuse very. The diffusion of a gas is, however, inversely proportional to the square root of its density. Thus, lighter gas diffuses more rapidly than heavier gas.