Classifying Matter According to Its State Solid, Liquid, and Gas

3 Classifying Matter According to Its State Solid, Liquid, and Gas 

In liquid water, the water molecules are also closely spaced but are free to move around and past each other. In steam, water molecules are separated by large distances and do not interact significantly with one another. 

A FIGURE 3.5 Types of solid matter (a) In a crystalline solid, atoms or molecules occupy specific positions to create a well-ordered, three-dimensional structure, (b) In an amorphous solid, atoms do not have any long-range order. 

A FIGURE 3.6 Salt a crystalline solid Sodimn chloride is an example of a crystalline solid. The well-ordered, cubic shape of salt crystals is due to the well-ordered, cubic arrangement of its atoms. 

In liquid matter, atoms or molecules are dose to each other (about as close as molecules in a solid) but are free to move aroimd and by each other. Like solids, liquids have a fixed volume because their atoms or molecules are in close contact. Unlike solids, however, liquids assume the shape of their container because the atoms or molecules are free to move relative to one another. Water, gasoline, alcohol, and mercury are all examples of liquid matter. 

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