Properties of Solids, Liquids and Gases

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key definitions, characteristics, and classifications of solids, liquids, and gases.

Substance

What something is made up of; one type of matter with its own properties.

Property

A characteristic that describes how an object or substance looks or behaves.

Solid

A state of matter that has a fixed volume and a fixed shape, and cannot be compressed.

Liquid

A state of matter with a fixed volume but no fixed shape, which can flow, cannot be compressed, and takes the shape of its container.

Gas

A state of matter without a fixed volume or shape, which can be compressed and spreads out to fill any available space.

Compress

A push that reduces the volume of an object.

Filtration

A separation method used to separate sand from a mixture of water and sand.

Good Conductor

A property of metal that makes it useful for electrical wires.

Transparent

A property of a material, such as glass, that allows light to pass through so objects behind it can be distinctly seen.

Foam

A substance that is difficult to classify into a single state of matter because it holds its shape like a solid, but can also flow and spread like a liquid.

Toothpaste

A substance that is hard to classify because it holds its shape inside the tube like a solid, but flows like a liquid when squeezed out.