Phases of Matter
The amount of energy within matter determines its phase of matter.
Gas - Atoms and molecules are moving, interacting with each other with too much energy to form bonds. Gas forms no definite shape and is highly compressible.
Liquids - Atoms and molecules are in contact with each other, but are in constant motion and are able to slip past each other. Liquids take the shape of the container it’s in and is weakly compressible.
Solids - Atoms and molecules are in contact and are not able to move past each other. Solids have a definite rigid shape with a defined volume, particles can vibrate around a fixed axis and can be weakly compressible.
The phase of matter is influenced by temperature and pressure. Different substances have different ranges of temperatures at which they exist in each state. For example at low temperatures water is a solid, at high temperatures water is a gas