States of Matter: Comparison Chart

State Particles
(Animation)
Arrangement Shape Volume Can it Flow? Can you
Squish it?
SOLID 🧊
Vibrating in place Tightly Packed Neat rows. Very strong attraction. Examples: ice cube, rock, chair, book, metal spoon, wooden table Fixed Keeps its shape. Fixed Size doesn't change. No It stays still. No Hard to compress.
LIQUID 💧
Sliding past each other Loosely Packed No neat pattern. Medium attraction. Examples: water, milk, juice, cooking oil, honey, shampoo Not Fixed Takes shape of container. Fixed Size doesn't change. Yes Flows High to Low. No Hard to compress.
GAS ☁️
Zooming freely! Far Apart Lots of space. Very weak attraction. Examples: air we breathe, steam from kettle, helium in balloons, perfume spray, car exhaust Not Fixed Fills the whole space. Not Fixed Expands everywhere. Yes Flows in all directions. Yes! Easy to compress.