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Chemistry GK · Q5

State of Matter

Competitive Exams · Chemistry GK · question 5

Q5

Matter around us can exist in three different states, namely, solid, liquid and gas. The correct order of their compressibility is

A.
Liquid < Gas < Solid
B.
Solid < Liquid < Gas
Answer
C.
Gas < Liquid < Solid
D.
Solid< Gas < Liquid

Answer: Option B

Solution

Answer: Option B
Solution:
Let's understand this question step-by-step

The question asks about "compressibility" for solids, liquids, and gases.

What is Compressibility?
Compressibility means how much you can squeeze a substance or material into a smaller space. Imagine trying to press something down or push its particles closer together.

Now, let's look at the three states of matter and how easily they can be squeezed:

1. Solids (like a stone or a piece of wood):
In solids, the tiny particles (atoms or molecules) are packed very, very closely together.
They are held by strong forces and have very little empty space between them.
Because there's hardly any empty space to push them into, it's extremely difficult to squeeze a solid.
Therefore, solids are the least compressible.

2. Liquids (like water or milk):
In liquids, the particles are still quite close together, but they are not as tightly packed as in solids.
They can move past each other, and there's a little bit of empty space, but not much.
You can squeeze liquids a tiny, tiny bit, but not very much at all.
So, liquids are more compressible than solids, but much less compressible than gases.

3. Gases (like the air we breathe or the gas in a balloon):
In gases, the particles are very, very far apart from each other.
They move around freely and randomly, and there is a lot of empty space between them.
Because there's so much empty space, it's very easy to push these particles closer together and reduce the volume.
Therefore, gases are the most compressible.

So, if we put them in order from least compressible to most compressible:
Solid < Liquid < Gas

This order means:
- Solids are less compressible than liquids.
- Liquids are less compressible than gases.

Looking at the options:
Option B: Solid < Liquid < Gas is the correct order.