Examples of Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Solids, liquids, and gases are the three primary states of matter. Understanding these states is crucial because they are fundamental concepts in chemistry and physics, and you might encounter phase changes in real life—from boiling water to freezing ice and condensation. There are various different types of examples for each state, from everyday substances like water and ice to more specialized materials like mercury and hydrogen sulfide.

Additionally, naming examples of solids, liquids, and gases is a common homework assignment because it makes you think about phase changes and the states of matter.

Examples of Solids

Solids are a form of matter that has a definite shape and volume. A solid maintains its rigid shape due to the tight connections formed by chemical bonds between its atoms or molecules.

1. Aluminum foil
2. Apple
3. Brass
4. Brick
5. Butter
6. Copper
7. Gold
8. Ice
9. Rock
10. Sand
11. Steel
12. Wood
    

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Examples of Liquids

Liquids are a form of matter that has a definite volume but no defined shape. Liquids can flow and assume the shape of their container.

1. Blood
2. Bromine (an element)
3. Coffee
4. Gasoline
5. Honey
6. Mercury (an element)
7. Milk
8. Rubbing alcohol
9. Urine
10. Water
11. Wine
    

Examples of Gases

A gas is a form of matter that does not have a defined shape or volume. Gases expand to fill the space they are given.

1. Air
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Freon
4. Helium
5. Hydrogen
6. Hydrogen sulfide
7. Natural gas
8. Nitrogen
9. Oxygen
10. Ozone
    
11. Propane
    
12. Water vapor
    

Phase Changes

Depending on the temperature and pressure, the matter may transition from one state into another. This is called a phase change, and there are various examples: 

• Solids may melt into liquids
• Solids may sublimate into gases (sublimation)
• Liquids may vaporize into gases
• Liquids may freeze into solids
• Gases may condense into liquids
• Gases may deposit into solids (deposition)

Increasing pressure and decreasing temperature forces atoms and molecules closer to each other so their arrangement becomes more ordered. Gases become liquids; liquids become solids. On the other hand, increasing temperature or decreasing pressure allows particles to move further apart. Solids become liquids; liquids become gases. Depending on the conditions, a substance may skip a phase, so a solid may become a gas or a gas may become a solid without experiencing the liquid phase.

Other States of Matter

In addition to solids, liquids, and gases, other states of matter have been discovered, with plasma being the most common. Like gas, it lacks a defined shape or volume, but its particles are electrically charged. Lightning is a plasma. There are also exotic states of matter, such as degenerate matter (which only occurs under extremely high pressure) and Bose-Einstein condensates, another rare phase that is sometimes referred to as the fifth state of matter.