Mass is the amount of matter an object has, and volume is the amount of space the matter takes up. Liquids do not have definite shape, but they do have definite mass and volume. Liquids are similar to solids because their atoms are close together, but what makes a liquid different is that those atoms can move around.

Matter – anything that has mass and takes up space.

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.

Matter

States of Matter: Facts

• Matter is all around us. Matter is the air you are breathing.
• Solids. Matter that is composed of atoms packed tightly together are known as solids.
• Liquids. Liquids do not hold their shape at room temperature.
• Gases.
• Change of State.
• More About Atoms.
• Elements.
• Compounds.

A common or traditional definition of matter is “anything that has mass and volume (occupies space)”. For example, a car would be said to be made of matter, as it has mass and volume (occupies space).

Key Points

• Matter can exist in one of three main states: solid, liquid, or gas.
• Solid matter is composed of tightly packed particles.
• Liquid matter is made of more loosely packed particles.
• Gaseous matter is composed of particles packed so loosely that it has neither a defined shape nor a defined volume.

The three states of matter are the three distinct physical forms that matter can take in most environments: solid, liquid, and gas. In extreme environments, other states may be present, such as plasma, Bose-Einstein condensates, and neutron stars.

Properties of Liquids

• Capillary Action.
• Cohesive and Adhesive Forces.
• Contact Angles.
• Surface Tension.
• Unusual Properties of Water.
• Vapor Pressure.
• Viscosity Viscosity is another type of bulk property defined as a liquid’s resistance to flow.
• Wetting Agents.

A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, gas, and plasma), and is the only state with a definite volume but no fixed shape.

Unique properties of water

• Water is polar.
• Water is an excellent solvent.
• Water has high heat capacity.
• Water has high heat of vaporization.
• Water has cohesive and adhesive properties.
• Water is less dense as a solid than as a liquid.

Liquids have a fixed volume but no fixed shape. Gases have no fixed volume and no fixed shape. Gases expand to fill the space available. They can also be compressed into a very small space.

The answer is yes, You can compress water, or almost any material. However, it requires a great deal of pressure to accomplish a little compression. For that reason, liquids and solids are sometimes referred to as being incompressible. You probably have experienced compressing something as hard as steel.

The forces between liquid particles are weaker than the forces between solid particles. This means that liquid particles are further apart and can move about more easily. Since the particles can move, the liquid can flow and take the shape of its container.

A solid is a sample of matter that retains its shape and density when not confined. Examples of solids are common table salt, table sugar, water ice, frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice), glass, rock, most metals, and wood. When a solid is heated, the atoms or molecules gain kinetic energy .