Question

(a) Compare the properties of solids, liquids and gases in tabular form.
(b) Give two reasons for saying that wood is a solid.

Figure

Answer 1

(a)

SOLID	LIQUID	GAS
Solids have a fixed shape and a fixed volume.	Liquids have a fixed volume, but no fixed shape.	Gases have neither a fixed volume nor a fixed shape.
Solids cannot be compressed.	Liquids can be compressed. Large pressure is required to compress them.	Gases can be compressed easily.
Solids have high density.	Liquids have lesser density than solids.	Gases have the least density among the three.
The force of attraction between the particles is very strong.	The intermolecular force of attraction is weaker than solids	The intermolecular force of attraction is weakest.
The space between the particles of solids is negligible.	They have considerable space between the particles.	The space between gas particles is large.

(b) Wood is a solid because it has a fixed shape and volume, and it is rigid and cannot be compressed.