How do particles behave in the three phases of matter?
1 Answer
Particles behave very differently in the three stages of matter.
Solid
In the solid state particles are held closely together and vibrate slightly. They exist in a regular arrangement - there is no regular arrangement in the other states.
Liquid
In the liquid state particles can move - the movement (temperature dependent) tends to be less frantic than in the gaseous state. The particles are still relatively close together.
Gas
In the gaseous state, particles move freely at a frantic pace.
The best demonstration of this is
In the solid state (ice) we can quite clearly observe no movement under conditions that favour the state being maintained (i.e. in a freezer)
In the liquid state (water) we can see the movement of the particles by merely shaking a glass with water.
In the gaseous state (steam) we can see the frantic motion of the particles by observing the steam that rises from a kettle when the water reaches boiling point.
