What are the three basic physical states of all matter?

What are the three basic physical states of all matter?

• A. Solid, liquid and plasma
• B. Solid, liquid and gas
• C. Liquid, gas and vapor
• D. Solid, vapor and gas

Answer: (B)

The three basic physical states of all matter are solid, liquid, and gas. This classification is based on the arrangement and behavior of the molecules within each state. In a solid, molecules are tightly packed together, maintaining a fixed shape and volume. In a liquid, while the molecules are still close together, they are free to move past one another, allowing liquids to take the shape of their container while retaining a definite volume. In a gas, molecules are much farther apart and move freely, resulting in neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume. This fundamental understanding of how matter can exist in these three states is critical in various applications, particularly in fields like engineering and physics. The other choices do not accurately represent the three primary states. For instance, while plasma is a state of matter, it’s not one of the three basic states typically introduced in elementary science. Similarly, vapor refers to a gas that is in equilibrium with its liquid state, making it a specific condition rather than a primary state of matter.

The three basic physical states of all matter are solid, liquid, and gas. This classification is based on the arrangement and behavior of the molecules within each state.

In a solid, molecules are tightly packed together, maintaining a fixed shape and volume. In a liquid, while the molecules are still close together, they are free to move past one another, allowing liquids to take the shape of their container while retaining a definite volume. In a gas, molecules are much farther apart and move freely, resulting in neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume. This fundamental understanding of how matter can exist in these three states is critical in various applications, particularly in fields like engineering and physics.

The other choices do not accurately represent the three primary states. For instance, while plasma is a state of matter, it’s not one of the three basic states typically introduced in elementary science. Similarly, vapor refers to a gas that is in equilibrium with its liquid state, making it a specific condition rather than a primary state of matter.