Solid, liquid and gas are states of matter. They differ from each other in terms of particle arrangement. Solids have definite shape and definite volume as particles in solids are closely packed and there is less space between the particles. Liquids have definite volume but do not have a definite shape. They take the shape of the container since liquid particles are loosely packed. Gases do not have definite shape and definite volume because particles are very far apart.

Some liquids float on other liquids. For example, vegetable oil floats on water since water is heavier than vegetable oil. Kerosene also floats on water.

Element is a basic unit of matter. Everything, whether it is a rock, frog, or flower is made of substances called elements. For example, you could grind gold into a billion bits of powder, and every particle would still be gold. You could treat the gold with every known chemical, but you could never break it down into simpler substances. That’s because gold is an element. An element is a substance that can’t be broken down into simpler chemical substances.

The three states of matter are interchangeable on heating or cooling. Various processes which result in change of states are melting, freezing, evaporating, cooling, and sublimating.

Teacher Sherab