Compare the density of solids and gases. Support your answer by describing the arrangement of particles in solids and gases.

Gases, liquids and solids are all made up of atoms, molecules, and/or ions, but the behaviors of these particles differ in the three phases. The following figure illustrates the microscopic differences.

Microscopic view of a gasMicroscopic view of a liquid.Microscopic view of a solid.

Microscopic view of a gas.Microscopic view of a liquid.Microscopic view of a solid.

Note that:

Particles in a:

gas are well separated with no regular arrangement.

liquid are close together with no regular arrangement.

solid are tightly packed, usually in a regular pattern.

Particles in a:

gas vibrate and move freely at high speeds.

liquid vibrate, move about, and slide past each other.

solid vibrate (jiggle) but generally do not move from place to place.

Liquids and solids are often referred to as condensed phases because the particles are very close together.

The following table summarizes properties of gases, liquids, and solids and identifies the microscopic behavior responsible for each property.

Some Characteristics of Gases, Liquids and Solids and the Microscopic Explanation for the Behavior

gasliquidsolid

assumes the shape and volume of its container

particles can move past one anotherassumes the shape of the part of the container which it occupies

particles can move/slide past one anotherretains a fixed volume and shape

rigid - particles locked into place

compressible

lots of free space between particlesnot easily compressible

little free space between particlesnot easily compressible

little free space between particles

flows easily

particles can move past one anotherflows easily

particles can move/slide past one anotherdoes not flow easily

rigid - particles cannot move/slide past one another

the maximum mass of nh3 is nh3 in grams