Answer to Question #61918 in General Chemistry for Britannia Farquharson

Question

Volume for solid,liquid and gas

Answer 1

The solids have a fixed shape and occupy a fixed volume.

Fluid flow because they may take any shape of the container is thus, they do not have a fixed shape. Since the particles in the liquid is very close to one another (slightly farther apart than in solids) liquid is not easy to compress, so their volume is fixed.

The gases may also take place, so that they take the shape of the entire container. They do not have a fixed shape. Since the particles in the gases are much further apart than in liquids or solids, they may be squeezed closer together. Gases therefore can be compressed or expanded. They do not have a fixed volume.