Asked by Victor lemus

3 states of matter

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Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The three classical states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Key features and examples:

- Solid
- Shape: definite (keeps its shape)
- Volume: definite
- Particle arrangement: tightly packed in a fixed, often ordered structure
- Particle motion: vibrate in place
- Compressibility: very low
- Examples: ice, iron, wood

- Liquid
- Shape: takes the shape of its container (no fixed shape)
- Volume: definite
- Particle arrangement: close together but not fixed; can move past each other
- Particle motion: flow and slide around one another
- Compressibility: low
- Examples: water, oil, mercury

- Gas
- Shape: fills the entire container (no fixed shape)
- Volume: expands to fill available space
- Particle arrangement: far apart, random
- Particle motion: rapid, free motion
- Compressibility: high
- Examples: oxygen, carbon dioxide, steam

Common phase changes:
- Melting (solid → liquid), freezing (liquid → solid)
- Vaporization/boiling or evaporation (liquid → gas), condensation (gas → liquid)
- Sublimation (solid → gas) and deposition (gas → solid)

(Plasma is often called a fourth state of matter; it’s an ionized gas found in stars and lightning.)