Chapter 2.1, Problem 6LC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:The similarity between liquids and gases and the difference between liquids and solids should be explained.

Concept Introduction: Substances that occupy space and have mass are said to be matter.

Explanation of Solution

Three states of matter are solid, liquid and gas. Certain characteristics of solid, liquid, and gas are:

• Solid: The particles in the solid matter are packed tightly together and the arrangement of particles is regular which means they are orderly arranged. As a result, solids have a definite volume, and shape, and are incompressible.
• Liquid: The particles in the liquid matter are in close contact with each other and are free to flow past one another, thus, the arrangement of particles is irregular. As a result, the volume of the liquid is definite but takes up the shape of the container in which it is placed. Liquids are slightly compressible.
• Gas: The particles in the gas matter are in far apart from each other in comparison to solids and liquids, thus, the arrangement of particles is irregular. As a result, the gases can expand and take up the shape and volume of the container in which it is placed. Gases are highly compressible.

Thus, the similarity between liquids and gases is that they don’t have a definite shape, and takes up the shape of the container in which they are placed whereas the difference between liquids and solids is solids have definite volume, shape, and are incompressible but the volume of the liquid is definite and takes up the shape of the container in which it is placed. Liquids are slightly compressible.