Question

Identify each of the following as a solid, a liquid, or a gas: a. vitamin tablets in a bottle b. helium in a balloon c. milk in a glass d. the air you breathe e. charcoal briquettes on a barbecue

Short answer

a. Solid, b. Gas, c. Liquid, d. Gas, e. Solid

Step-by-step solution

- Vitamin tablets in a bottle

Vitamin tablets are in solid form because they have a definite shape and volume.

- Helium in a balloon

Helium in a balloon is in gas form since it fills the balloon by expanding to occupy the volume of the balloon.

- Milk in a glass

Milk is in liquid form because it conforms to the shape of the glass but maintains a constant volume.

- The air you breathe

The air you breathe is a gas because it has no definite shape or volume, expanding to fill any container.

- Charcoal briquettes on a barbecue

Charcoal briquettes are solid because they maintain a fixed shape and volume.

Key concepts

solids

Solids are one of the main states of matter. They have a distinct and fixed shape that doesn't change unless a force is applied. This means solids don't flow or spread out like liquids or gases. Here's what you need to remember about solids:

• Solids have a constant shape and volume.
• The particles in solids are closely packed together. They are arranged in a specific pattern and only vibrate slightly.

Your vitamin tablets and charcoal briquettes are great examples. They stay in their form, whether they're in a bottle or on a barbecue. Because of these properties, solids are useful for building and constructing things around us.

liquids

Liquids are another state of matter. They have a definite volume but take the shape of their container. This is important because it shows how liquids can adapt their shape based on their surroundings. Key properties of liquids include:

• Liquids have a definite volume but no fixed shape.
• The particles are less tightly packed compared to solids, allowing them to move around freely and flow.

Milk in a glass is an easy example. It takes the shape of the glass it’s poured into but maintains its volume. Liquids are crucial in many daily applications, like drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

gases

Gases are the most energetic state of matter. They neither have a fixed shape nor a definite volume. Gases will expand to fill whatever container they’re placed in. Here are some characteristics of gases:

• Gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume.
• The particles are very far apart and move quickly in all directions.

Think about helium in a balloon or the air you breathe. Helium expands to fill the entire balloon, and air is all around us, filling spaces without us noticing. Gases are essential for breathing, inflating balloons, and even in various industrial applications.

properties of matter

Understanding the properties of matter is key to grasping other scientific concepts. Matter can exist in three main states: solid, liquid, and gas. Each state has unique properties that define how the matter behaves. Key points to remember:

• Solids have a definite shape and volume.
• Liquids have a definite volume but no fixed shape.
• Gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.

These properties explain why vitamin tablets are solid, milk is liquid, and the air you breathe is a gas. Recognizing these properties helps in understanding how materials around us interact and change in different conditions.