Question

What determines whether matter is a solid, liquid, or gas?

Answer 1

Two factors determine whether a substance is a solid, a liquid, or a gas:

1) The kinetic energies of the particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) that make up a substance. Kinetic energy tends to keep the particles moving apart. '

2) The attractive inter molecular forces between particles that tend to draw the particles together.

Answer 2

Explanation:

A matter is a substance that has some mass and that also occupies volume. A matter can be present in solid, liquid or gaseous state.

These states are determined by the intermolecular forces present in the substance and the spaces or kinetic energy of the particles.

• As in solid state, the molecules are held together by strong intermolecular forces of attraction. Hence, they have least kinetic energy and have fixed shape and volume.

• In liquids, molecules are slightly away from each other and their molecules have some kinetic energy because of which they are able to slide past each other. Liquids do not have a fixed shape but they do have fixed volume.

• In gases, molecules are farther apart from each other as they are held together by weak Vander waal forces. As a result, they have high kinetic energy and rapidly collide with each other. So, gases are able to diffues at a faster rate.