Solids, Liquids & Gases Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

How are the particles arranged in a solid?

Closely packed in a regular arrangement, vibrating about fixed positions.

How are the particles arranged in a liquid?

Closely packed but in a random arrangement, able to move past each other.

How are the particles arranged in a gas?

Far apart and randomly arranged, moving quickly in all directions.

Why is a gas much less dense than the same substance as a liquid or solid?

Its particles are much further apart, so there is far less mass in the same volume.

For most substances, which state of matter has the highest density, and why?

The solid — its particles are the most closely packed, so the most mass fits in a given volume.

True or false? The particles in a gas are larger than the particles in the same substance as a solid.

False. The particles are identical; in a gas they are simply much further apart.