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Chemistry: All Topics
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What are the shape and volume properties of a solid?
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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry
Chemistry: All TopicsComplete deck
01·1 States of matter
What are the shape and volume properties of a solid?
Answer
A solid has a fixed shape and a fixed volume.
02·1 States of matter
What are the shape and volume properties of a liquid?
Answer
A liquid has a fixed volume but no fixed shape; it takes the shape of its container.
03·1 States of matter
What are the shape and volume properties of a gas?
Answer
A gas has neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume; it fills its container.
04·1 States of matter
Which states of matter can flow?
Answer
Liquids and gases can flow; solids do not flow.
05·1 States of matter
Which state of matter can be compressed easily?
Answer
A gas. Its volume can be reduced substantially by applying pressure.
06·1 States of matter
Can a liquid normally be compressed easily?
Answer
No. Liquids are very difficult to compress because their particles are close together.
07·1 States of matter
How does a liquid behave differently from a gas when placed in a larger container?
Answer
A liquid keeps nearly the same volume and occupies part of the container; a gas spreads out to fill the container.
08·1 States of matter
Why does a gas take the shape of a new container?
Answer
A gas has no fixed shape; it flows and spreads throughout its new container.
09·1 States of matter
How can a liquid be distinguished from a solid by its behaviour in a container?
Answer
A liquid flows and takes the container’s shape, while a solid retains its own shape.
10·1 States of matter
A substance keeps its volume when moved into a new vessel but changes shape. Which state is it?
Answer
Liquid: it has a fixed volume but takes the shape of the new vessel.
11·1 States of matter
A substance fills its container and can be compressed greatly. Which state is it?
Answer
Gas: it fills the vessel and is readily compressed.
12·1 States of matter
How are particles arranged in a solid?
Answer
They are very close together in a regular, fixed arrangement.
13·1 States of matter
How do particles move in a solid?
Answer
They vibrate about fixed positions; they do not move freely from place to place.
14·1 States of matter
How are particles arranged in a liquid?
Answer
They are close together but irregularly arranged, with no fixed positions.
15·1 States of matter
How do particles move in a liquid?
Answer
They move randomly and slide past one another.
16·1 States of matter
How far apart are particles in a gas?
Answer
They are widely separated compared with their size, with much empty space between them.
17·1 States of matter
How are particles arranged in a gas?
Answer
They have no fixed pattern and are widely separated from one another.
18·1 States of matter
How do particles move in a gas?
Answer
They move rapidly and randomly in all directions.
19·1 States of matter
Why does a solid retain a fixed shape in terms of its particles?
Answer
Its closely packed particles vibrate about fixed positions rather than moving past one another.
20·1 States of matter
Why can a liquid flow but a solid cannot?
Answer
Liquid particles can move past each other; solid particles remain in fixed positions and only vibrate.
21·1 States of matter
Why can gases be compressed much more than liquids?
Answer
Gas particles have large spaces between them, whereas liquid particles are already close together.
22·1 States of matter
Why does a gas spread to fill its container according to the particle model?
Answer
Its widely separated particles move freely and randomly throughout the available space.
23·1 States of matter
How does particle separation compare in solids, liquids and gases?
Answer
Particles are close together in solids and liquids but much farther apart in gases.
24·1 States of matter
A particle diagram shows closely packed particles in irregular positions. Which state is represented?
Answer
Liquid: the particles are close together but have no fixed regular arrangement.
25·1 States of matter
A student claims that particles in a solid never move. What is wrong with the claim?
Answer
Solid particles are not stationary; they vibrate about their fixed positions.
26·1 States of matter
A model shows widely separated particles moving randomly and colliding with walls. Which state does it show, and why?
Answer
Gas: its particles have large separations and move freely in random directions.
27·1 States of matter
What is melting?
Answer
The change of state from solid to liquid.
28·1 States of matter
What is freezing?
Answer
The change of state from liquid to solid.
29·1 States of matter
What is boiling?
Answer
The rapid change of a liquid into a gas throughout the liquid at its boiling point.
30·1 States of matter
What is evaporation?
Answer
The change of a liquid into a gas at its surface; it can occur below the boiling point.

