Solids:
- Solid can be defined as one of the fundamental states of matter in which it has a definite shape, size, and ordered structure.
- Solids have definite boundaries and the constituent particles have fixed positions and oscillate about their mean positions.
- In solids, particles are tightly packed and intermolecular forces are the strongest.
- They are rigid and have negligible compressibility.
- The particles are arranged in regular order.
- Solids can be classified as crystalline or amorphous on the basis of the nature of order present in the arrangement of their constituent particle.
- A crystalline solid has a long-range order which means that there is a regular pattern of arrangement of particles that repeats itself periodically over the entire crystal.
- Examples of crystalline solids include ice, Sodium chloride, and diamonds.
- An amorphous solid consists of particles of irregular shape and the arrangement of constituent particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) in such a solid has only short-range order in such arrangements, a regular and periodical repeating pattern is observed over short distances only.
- Examples of amorphous solids include metallic glasses, gels, thin-film lubricants, and certain polymers.
Therefore, solids are the fundamental state of matter having a fixed shape and size