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What is a liquid?
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Quick answer
A liquid is a state of matter that has a fixed volume but no fixed shape — it flows and takes the shape of whatever container it's in. Its particles are close together like a solid's, but loose enough to slide past one another.
Key things to understand
- A liquid keeps its volume but not its shape — pour it into a new container and it takes that shape.
- Its particles are close together but can move and slide past each other, which lets a liquid flow.
- Liquids are nearly incompressible because the particles are already close together.
- Cooling a liquid enough freezes it into a solid; heating it enough boils it into a gas.
- A liquid's surface tension lets it form droplets and lets some insects walk on water.
People also ask
Why does a liquid take the shape of its container?
Its particles are loosely bonded — close together but free to slide past one another. So a liquid flows and settles into the shape of whatever holds it, while keeping the same volume.
What's the difference between a liquid and a gas?
Both flow, but a liquid's particles stay close together (fixed volume), while a gas's particles spread far apart to fill any space (no fixed volume).
Can a liquid be compressed?
Barely. The particles are already packed close together, so liquids are nearly incompressible — unlike gases, which squeeze easily.