Science
What is Liquid?
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.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains liquid.
Key things to understand
- 1A liquid keeps its volume but not its shape — pour it into a new container and it takes that shape.
- 2Its particles are close together but can move and slide past each other, which lets a liquid flow.
- 3Liquids are nearly incompressible because the particles are already close together.
- 4Cooling a liquid enough freezes it into a solid; heating it enough boils it into a gas.
- 5A liquid's surface tension lets it form droplets and lets some insects walk on water.
Frequently asked questions
- 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.