What are the three fundamental states of matter?

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Multiple Choice

What are the three fundamental states of matter?

Matter can exist in different forms depending on temperature and pressure. The three basic states are solid, liquid, and gas. In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place, giving something a definite shape and volume. In a liquid, particles are less tightly bound and can flow past one another, so liquids take the container’s shape while keeping a fixed volume. In a gas, particles are far apart and move freely, so gases spread out to fill available space and don’t have a fixed shape or volume. There is also plasma, a state that occurs at very high energy when electrons are stripped from atoms, found in stars and some flames. It isn’t one of the three foundational states listed above. A convenient way to remember the three fundamental states is to think of everyday water: ice (solid), liquid water (liquid), and steam (gas).

Matter can exist in different forms depending on temperature and pressure. The three basic states are solid, liquid, and gas.

In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place, giving something a definite shape and volume. In a liquid, particles are less tightly bound and can flow past one another, so liquids take the container’s shape while keeping a fixed volume. In a gas, particles are far apart and move freely, so gases spread out to fill available space and don’t have a fixed shape or volume.

There is also plasma, a state that occurs at very high energy when electrons are stripped from atoms, found in stars and some flames. It isn’t one of the three foundational states listed above.

A convenient way to remember the three fundamental states is to think of everyday water: ice (solid), liquid water (liquid), and steam (gas).

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