{"id":1575,"date":"2013-06-07T11:22:16","date_gmt":"2013-06-07T11:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=1575"},"modified":"2026-03-28T11:02:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T16:02:44","slug":"states-of-matter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/states-of-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"States of Matter (Basic)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_7a6SxQLZtiY\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_7a6SxQLZtiY\" data-source-videoID=\"7a6SxQLZtiY\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"States of Matter (Basic) Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"States of Matter (Basic)\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_7a6SxQLZtiY:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_7a6SxQLZtiY {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/666-states-of-matter-3.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_7a6SxQLZtiY\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_7a6SxQLZtiY\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"States of Matter (Basic)\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_7a6SxQLZtiY\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_7a6SxQLZtiY\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_7a6SxQLZtiY\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction k1c_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"k1c\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"k1c_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"k1c\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Gas\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Gas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Liquid\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Liquid<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Solid\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Solid<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"FAQs\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Have you ever put an ice cube in a heated skillet, and watch it transform from ice, to water, then to evaporate out of the pan and make steam? What you\u2019re seeing is that piece of <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/physical-and-chemical-properties-of-matter\/\">matter<\/a> changing in its state.<\/p>\n<p>There are three primary states that matter exists in: gas, liquid, and solid. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-211792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram.webp 2560w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/States-of-matter-diagram-2048x2048.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However, in very extreme cases matter can exist in other states, like plasma\u2014more specifically, hot plasma.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Gas\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Gas<\/h2>\n<p>\nWithin a gas, particles have large gaps of space, and there is no specific pattern to their arrangements. The particles move very quickly and freely. Since there is a lot of space between particles, gas is compressible. Gas can easily flow since particles dart past each other, and gas takes the shape and <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/mass-weight-volume-density-and-specific-gravity\/\">volume<\/a> of the container that it\u2019s in, since the particles move freely.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Liquid\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Liquid<\/h2>\n<p>\nParticles within a liquid are much closer together, but they also do not have a specific arranged pattern. These liquid particles move, but not quite like gas particles. They vibrate, slowly move about, and they can also move past each other. Because the particles can move, a liquid can fill the shape of the container it\u2019s in. However, it will not fill the whole space like gas, depending on the volume of water to volume of container ratio. Since there is not as much space between the particles, liquid is not easily compressible. Liquid can flow pretty effortlessly, which is due to the particles&#8217; ability to slide and move past each other. <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Solid\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Solid<\/h2>\n<p>\nNow, particles within a solid are very, very close together with very little, if any, space between each other; and they are generally arranged in a specific pattern. Typically, solids do not move about, but they will vibrate in place. A solid has an already fixed volume and shape, since there are little to no major movements of the particles. A solid is also not easy to compress, because of the lack of space between the particles already. Solids do not flow easily, because of the lack of movement of the particles and their inability to move past each other.<\/p>\n<p>Now, <strong>plasma<\/strong>. I mentioned that this only happens in extreme cases. Plasma is an extremely hot gas that is ionized. Plasma has significantly different characteristics than the other 3 states of matter, so it is thought of as the very distinct fourth state of matter. However, it is closest in similarity to that of a gas.<\/p>\n<p>Having an understanding of what\u2019s going on with the particles within matter is very important. They are not just simply tiny pieces of solid or liquid or gas, they are molecules and atoms. What is happening with those molecules and atoms, their physical characteristics, is what decides their state.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that this video on states of matter was helpful. See you guys next time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"FAQs-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What are the states of matter?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The current definition of matter describes it as having four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">Which state of matter is fire?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Fire is considered plasma.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the state of matter of the mantle?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The state of matter of the Earth&#8217;s mantle is predominantly solid.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">Which state of matter has the most kinetic energy?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Plasma is the state of matter with the most kinetic energy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/biology\/\">Return to Biology Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Biology Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99658,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-1575","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-matter-and-atoms-biology-videos","7":"page_type-video","8":"subject_matter-science"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1575"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":283591,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1575\/revisions\/283591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}