Question

Give two reasons to justify that :
(a) Water is a liquid at room temperature.
(b) An iron almirah is a solid.

Answer 1

(a) Water is a liquid at room temperature due to the following characteristics:
(i) Water has fixed volume, but no fixed shape.
(ii) Water flows freely.

Particles of water have large intermolecular spaces between them and intermolecular force of attraction between these particles is small. These characteristics facilitates water to behave like a liquid.

(b)An iron almirah is a solid at room temperature because:
(i) The iron almirah has fixed shape and volume.
(ii) Particles of the iron almirah do not flow freely and have fixed positions.

Particles of iron have a very little intermolecular space between themselves and intermolecular force of attraction between these particles is very strong. These characteristics facilitates iron to behave like a solid.