Question

Explain the given statement.

At room temperature the forces of attraction between the particles of solid substances are stronger than those which exist in the gaseous state.

Answer 1

The molecules vibrate about fixed positions and cannot migrate to other positions in the substance. Unlike gas or liquid, a solid has a fixed shape, and unlike a gas, a solid has a fixed volume. Hence, the force of attractions is stronger than that of gaseous state in general gases do not have a fixed shape. This sense how weak the force of attraction between molecules hence stronger.