State of Matter

Meaning

State of matter means whether a material is solid, liquid or gas.

About States of Matter

Materials can be solid, liquid or gas.

The state of matter can be changed by heating or cooling the material.

Heating can turn a solid into a liquid. This is called melting.

Heating can turn a liquid to a gas. This is called evaporating.

Cooling can turn a gas into a liquid. This is called condensing.

Cooling can turn a liquid into solid. This is called freezing.

Solid

Solids are a state of matter that:

Cannot be poured. Hold their shape if you leave them alone. Do not flow.

Solids cannot be squashed into a smaller size. You can change their shape by squashing, but their size stays the same.

Examples of solid materials:

• Brick
• Wood
• Plastic
• Glass
• Ice

Liquid

Liquids are a state of matter that:

Can be poured and will flow. Cannot hold their shape Fit the shape of the container.

Liquids cannot be squashed into a smaller size. You can change their shape, but their size stays the same.

Examples of liquid materials:

• Water
• Oil

Gas

Gases are a state of matter that:

Cannot hold their shape. Fit the shape of their container. Can be poured and will flow.

Gases can be squashed into a smaller size.

Examples of gas materials:

• Air (A mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen)
• Steam