What is the key difference between a liquid and a gas?

Answer :

The key differences between a liquid and the a gas is,

A liquid has no fixed shape but it has a volume.

A gas has neither a fixed shape nor a volume.

A liquid has more inter-molecular space between the molecules.

A gas has larger inter-molecular space between the molecules as compared to the liquids.

A liquid has some Inter-molecular attraction between the molecules because of the low Inter-molecular spacing between the molecules.

A gas has very low or minimum Inter-molecular attraction between the molecules because of the larger Inter-molecular spacing between the molecules.

A liquid flow from the higher to the lower region but a gas flow in all the direction.

Liquids and gases differ from each other in the following ways:

1. Intermolecular forces

2. Motion of particles

3. Direction of flow

4. Compressibility

Further Explanation:

Matter can mainly exist in three physical states. These are solid, liquid and gas.

Solid

It is that state of matter that has a definite shape and volume. These have a regular arrangement of its constituent particles. These have the strongest intermolecular forces between their constituent particles and therefore the motion of particles in solid is almost negligible. Table salt, wood, and diamond are some examples of solids.

Liquid

The state of matter with a definite volume but no particular shape is called liquid. The intermolecular forces in the liquids are weaker than that in solids and therefore the motion of particles in liquids is more as compared to that in solids. Milk, water, and bromine are some examples of liquids.

Gas

This state of matter has neither a definite shape nor a definite volume. These have a disordered arrangement of its constituent particles. These have the weakest intermolecular forces between their constituent particles and therefore the motion of particles in a gas is the highest among all states of matter. Nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are some examples of gases.

Liquids have a definite volume but gases occupy the volume of the container in which these are kept.

Liquids have stronger intermolecular forces as compared to that of gases so the motion of gas particles is more than that of liquid particles.

Liquids are incompressible whereas gases are highly compressible in nature.

The flow of liquid takes place from higher to lower level while gases can move randomly in all directions.

Learn more:

1. Which sample is a pure substance?

2. Which is a characteristic of a  mixture?

Answer details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Chemistry

Chapter: Matter in our surroundings

Keywords: liquid, gas, solid, states of matter, intermolecular forces, shape, volume, matter, strong, weakest, motion of particles.

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