Difference between Solid, Liquid and Gas Table (Solids vs Liquids vs Gases)

Define matter: All things around us that occupy space and have mass are known as matter.

Example of matter: Air we breath, Water we drink, the food we eat, stones, clouds, stars, plants and animals, even a small drop of water or a particle of sand – every thing is matter

Matter around us exists in three different states– solid, liquid and gas. These states of matter arise due to the variation in the characteristics of the particles of matter.

With the advancement of physical science, scientists are talking of five states of matter: Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma and BoseEinstein Condensate.

Difference between Solid, Liquid and Gas in Tabular form

Solids vs Liquids vs Gases

Characteristics of Solids:

1. Volume: Definite volume, as intermolecular forces between the constituent particles are very strong.

2. Diffusion: Can diffuse into liquids.

3. Compressibility : Negligible

4. Rigidity or Fluidity : Very rigid and cannot flow

5. Density: High

6. Shape: They have a definite shape

7. Kinetic energy of particles at a given temperature: Least energy

8. Interparticle space: Least

9. Interparticle force of attraction: Very strong

10. Intermolecular forces: Strong enough to hold the constituent particles in fixed positions.

11. Arrangement of molecules: Packed in definite pattern so they possess a definite geometry.

Characteristics of Liquids:

1. Volume: Definite volume, as intermolecular forces between the constituent particles are strong.

2. Diffusion: Diffusion is higher than solids.

3. Compressibility: Negligible

4. Rigidity or Fluidity: Less rigid and can flow easily.

5. Density:Moderate

6. Shape: They do not have a definite shape.

7. Kinetic energy of particles at a given temperature: Higher than solids

8. Interparticle space: Lesser

9. Interparticle force of attraction: Less strong

10. Intermolecular forces: Strong enough to hold the constituent particles in aggregation within the bulk but not in  fixed positions.

11. Arrangement of molecules: Packed weak in comparison to solids, shape not fixed.

Characteristics of Gases:

1. Volume: No definite volume, as  intermolecular forces between the constituent particles are weak.

2. Diffusion: Highly diffusible as particles move randomly at high speed.

3. Compressibility: High

4. Rigidity or Fluidity: No rigidity and can flow most easily.

5. Density: Low

6. Shape: They do not have a definite shape.

7. Kinetic energy of particles at a given temperature: Maximum energy

8. Interparticle space:More than others

9. Interparticle force of attraction:Weak

10. Intermolecular forces: Extremely low, so that the constituent particles are free to move in a continuous random motion.

11. Arrangement of molecules:Packed very poorly so they fill the container, no definite shape.