Question

Write the difference between solid, liquid and gas phase?

Answer 1

Hint:Anything that occupies space and has a mass is called matter. Matter can be present in three major forms, namely solid, liquid and gas. The states of matter have been distinguished on the basis of qualitative differences in their bulk properties.

Complete step by step answer:
Solids are characterised by definite volume and shape, liquids by their ability to adapt the shape of the container in which it is kept and gases by their ability to expand and adapt the shape as well as volume of the container. The table below points out the major differences between solid, liquids and gas phase for better comparison of the three phases:

Basis	Solid	Liquid	Gas
Rigidity	Solids are rigid.	Liquids are not rigid.	Gases are not rigid.
Fluidity	Solids lack the ability to flow.	Liquids can flow from higher level (concentration) to lower level.	Gases can flow in all directions.
Volume and shape	Solids have definite shape and volume due to their rigid structure.	Liquids have definite volume but it lacks definite shape and can take the shape of the container in which it is stored.	Gases neither have a definite shape nor a definite volume.
Intermolecular interaction	Particles in a solid are packed closely together, so they are only able to vibrate but not move.	Intermolecular interaction is comparatively less than that of solids, so the molecules or particles have enough energy to move around.	Here, the intermolecular interaction is least, so the gas molecules or particles can move freely and quickly.
Compressibility	One cannot compress solid appreciably.	Can be compressed.	Can be compressed significantly.
Storage	It can easily be stored without a container or vessel.	Liquids cannot be stored without a vessel or container.	Gases can be stored in vessels only.
Examples	Cup, brick, chair, wood, etc.	Water, milk, honey, oil, etc.	Air, ozone, natural gas, etc.

Note: Recently, research has shown that there is a fourth state of matter that exists, popularly known as plasma. Plasma is assumed to consist of roughly equal numbers of positively and negatively charged entities in it.