Question

(a) Why are gases more easily compressed than liquids?

(b) Why do liquids have a greater ability to flow than solids?

Short answer

1. Gases are more compressible than liquids because of the fewer intermolecular interactions in gases compared to liquids.
2. Liquids have a greater ability to flow than solids because of the fewer intermolecular interactions in liquids than in solids.

Step-by-step solution

Random motion

Less intermolecular interactions between the gaseous molecules render gaseous molecules randomly moving in the volume provided.

Insignificant volume

Thus, the actual volume of gaseous molecules is very less in comparison to the volume of the container which consists of the same.

Compressibility factor

Because of these less intermolecular interactions and negligible molecular volume, the compressibility of the gases is easy in comparison to liquids.

Interactions in liquid

Liquids have a greater ability to flow than solids because of the fewer intermolecular interactions in liquids than in solids.

Liquids have comparatively fewer intermolecular interactions than gaseous molecules.

External force applied

This makes the liquids less resistive to any external force applied in comparison to the solids.

Liquid flow

Thus, the flow of liquids which renders breakdown of the existing intermolecular interactions because of the force applied is easy.