States of Matter

Matter exists in three forms called three states of matter. They are solid, liquid and gas.

Solids: A stone, a table or a book are solids. They are hard to touch. Suppose, if we pick them up and place them somewhere else, their shape or the space they occupy does not change. Solids therefore, have a definite shape and volume.

In solids, the molecules are very close to each other. So we can say that the molecules of a solid are closely packed.


Liquids: Water, milk and mango juice are liquids. We cannot pick them up with our fingers. They flow if we pour them on the floor. Pour a liquid in a container such as a glass. Now we see the shape of the liquid is the same as that of the glass. Now pour it in a bowl and we see that it take the shape of the bowl. But the volume of the liquid does not change no matter which container it is put in.

So a liquid has a definite volume but no definite shape. In liquid, they are less closely packed in comparison to solids. In case of liquid, they can move around more freely and that is why liquids can flow.


Gases: Air is a gas. Molecules in a gas are far apart from each other. They are free to move around all over in the space available to them. So a gas has no fixed shape or volume. Molecules of a gas can be squeezed into a small container or spread out in a big container. In gases, the molecules are very loosely packed.

Suppose, when we blow air into a balloon, the air is squeezed into the balloon. When we let the air out of the balloon, it spread all over the room. It now occupies a large volume. So gases have no fixed shape or volume.

Due to arrangements of molecules, solid have a definite shape and volume. Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape. And gases have neither definite volume nor shape.









Fourth Grade

From States of Matter to HOME PAGE

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


Recent Articles

  1. Amphibolic Pathway | Definition | Examples | Pentose Phosphate Pathway

    Jun 06, 24 10:40 AM

    Amphibolic Pathway
    Definition of amphibolic pathway- Amphibolic pathway is a biochemical pathway where anabolism and catabolism are both combined together. Examples of amphibolic pathway- there are different biochemical…

    Read More

  2. Respiratory Balance Sheet | TCA Cycle | ATP Consumption Process

    Feb 18, 24 01:56 PM

    ATP Synthase in Mitochondria
    The major component that produced during the photosynthesis is Glucose which is further metabolised by the different metabolic pathways like glycolysis, Krebs cycle, TCA cycle and produces energy whic…

    Read More

  3. Electron Transport System and Oxidative Phosphorylation | ETC |Diagram

    Feb 04, 24 01:57 PM

    Electron Transport Chains
    It is also called ETC. Electron transfer means the process where one electron relocates from one atom to the other atom. Definition of electron transport chain - The biological process where a chains…

    Read More

  4. Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle | Krebs Cycle | Steps | End Products |Diagram

    Jan 28, 24 12:39 PM

    Aerobic Respiration
    This is a type of process which execute in a cyclical form and final common pathway for oxidation of Carbohydrates fat protein through which acetyl coenzyme a or acetyl CoA is completely oxidised to c…

    Read More

  5. Aerobic Respiration | Definition of Aerobic Respiration | Glycolysis

    Dec 15, 23 08:42 AM

    Aerobic Respiration
    This is a type of respiration where molecular free oxygen is used as the final acceptor and it is observed in cell. Site of Aerobic Respiration - Aerobic respiration is observed in most of the eukaryo…

    Read More