States Of Matter

States of Matter
Matter can be defined as anything that occupies space. This would include all of the material that makes up our universe. On earth, matter is found naturally in three states, orstructures, including solids, liquids and gases. In space, a fourth state of matter known as plasma is more typical. Each state of matter has different characteristics and properties.
Solids are a formof matter which occupies a definite amount of space. They have a rigid shape that resists change. The particles that make up solids are highly attracted to each other and have an ordered structure inspace. Their motion is typically limited to vibrations in a limited volume. In general, most substances become solid when they are cooled. This slows the motion of the particles of matter and allowsthem arrange themselves in a more orderly fashion. Depending on the temperature, solids may be compressed but only slightly. Solids may exist in the form of crystals which have geometric shapes. Thesewould include materials such as salt, sugar, or ice. Less regular solids have amorphous structures. This includes things such as clay, polystyrene, or polyester. If a solid is substantially heated,its particles may vibrate with enough energy to break the rigid structure. When this happens, the substance melt and is converted to a liquid. The temperature at which this occurs is the melting point.Like solids, liquids occupy a fixed amount of space. Also, they can only be compressed slightly. However, they generally do not have rigid shapes and will acquire the form of the container in whichthey are held. In liquids, the particles are arranged farther apart than in solids. They can also move about space randomly, although they always maintain contact with some of the other liquidparticles. Examples of naturally occurring liquids include water, milk, alcohol, and mercury. If the temperature of a liquid is increased enough, the substance will vaporize and change to a gas.

Gases...