CHEM 103 Module 6 Notes The Liquid State of Matter Portage/The Liquid State of Matter
Because liquids can exist only within a relatively narrow range
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temperatures and pressures, the liquid state is the least common state
of matter in the universe. For example, of the 92 naturally occurring
elements, 79 are solids, 11 are gases, and only two (bromine and
mercury) are liquids.
According to the kinetic molecular theory, liquids have less kinetic
energy than gasses so that the intermolecular attractive forces are
strong enough to hold the liquid particles close together, but not strong
enough to keep neighboring particles in a fixed position and so the
particles are free to move past or slide over one another.
Solids particles vibrate around fixed points and liquids slide past one
another since they are not fixed, but the forces are still strong enough
to keep them tied to one another vs gasses.
Solids: particles vibrate around fixed points- material has a fixed shape
(example: ice cube)
Liquids: particles are free to move about (fluid) but take the shape of a
container (assume the bottom part of the container they are in)
Gases: particles are not attracted, so move freely filling the container
(if you have a balloon the gas particles are going to fill the balloon)
Properties of Liquids
This property of restricted flow gives liquids certain properties:
A liquid has a definite volume, but not a definite shape since the
intermolecular attractive forces are strong enough to hold the particles
close together. Like a gas, a liquid takes the shape of its container (but
just the lower part of the container, whereas a gas fills the entire
container).
Liquids (and gases) are both fluids because the particles that make up
the liquid are moving (vibrating and rotating) enough to cause the
substance to have a fluid (non-fixed shape) and so both gases and
liquids flow.
Particles in both liquids and solids have stronger attractive forces (than
gases) between them which results in the particles being packed [Show Less]