States of Matter

Matter

We describe all of the things around us as matter. Everything is made of matter. More correctly, we describe matter as anything that occupies space and has mass.

Solid, liquid and gas are called the states of matter. All substances exist in one of these three states. All substances can change their state.

Solids, Liquids and Gases

Solids, liquids and gases are all around us. Steel, concrete, wood and plastic are all solids. Some liquids are water, oil and petrol. One gas is carbon dioxide. This gas makes the fizz in soft drinks. Air is a mixture of gases, including the oxygen we breathe

Some features of solids, liquids and gases are shown below:

Properties of Matter

Solids, liquids and gases are defined by their properties. Properties such as whether they can flow or not, can be compressed or not or whether they can take the shape of the container they are in are all used to define solids, liquids and gases.

Properties of Solids:

• They have a fixed shape and cannot flow
• They cannot be compressed (squashed)

Properties of Liquids:

• They flow and take the shape of the bottom of their container
• They cannot be compressed (squashed)

Properties of Gases:

• They flow and completely fill their container
• They can be compressed (squashed)