Question

How would you describe the movement of atoms in a solid,liquid and gas?

Answer 1

Hint:The solid, liquid and gas are the three states of matter. They can be differentiated from each other on the basis of affinity of the constituent atoms from each other.
The solid has the most affinity and so the atoms are tightly packed, the liquid has lower affinity than solid so it can flow, and the gases have the least affinity between its constituent atoms.
Complete step-by-step answer:We will consider the definition of each of these terms and then we will focus on the movement of the particles or the atoms in the individual states of matter.
In case of solids, we know that the solids are those substances in which the particles or atoms are closely packed together and they are not fluid. In other words, because of the closely packed form, the atoms or molecules are unable to move inside the structure. These are of two types, crystal and amorphous. The solids have definite shape and definite volume. For instance, a log of wood.
Now if we consider the liquid, it is the type of state of matter in which the particles are not so tightly packed as solid. The particles have some amount of affinity with each other and so they have definite volume. The liquids are fluid, which means it can flow, and so it does not have a definite shape, it takes the shape of the container in which it is kept. For instance, water in a bottle.
Now, consider the gas, where the particles have least affinity for each other and so they move really fast. They do not have definite shape or volume. It takes the whole volume of the container in which it is kept. Meaning, it tends to spread out and take the shape of the container. For instance, helium gas in a tank.

Note:The kinetic energy of the atoms in case of solid is the lowest because they cannot move, as they are tightly packed with each other.
In case of liquid, the kinetic energy is moderate, because the particles can move in its definite volume.
In case of gases, it has the highest kinetic energy, as the gases can move randomly in all directions.