Indicate whether each of the following describes a gas, a liquid, or a solid:b. The particles in a tank of oxygen are very far apart.

Verified step by step guidance

1. insert step 1> Identify the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
2. insert step 2> Understand the characteristics of each state: solids have closely packed particles, liquids have particles that are close but can move past each other, and gases have particles that are very far apart.
3. insert step 3> Analyze the given description: 'The particles in a tank of oxygen are very far apart.'
4. insert step 4> Compare the description to the characteristics of the three states of matter.
5. insert step 5> Conclude that the description matches the characteristics of a gas, where particles are very far apart.

Key Concepts

States of Matter

Matter exists in three primary states: solid, liquid, and gas. Each state is characterized by the arrangement and behavior of its particles. In solids, particles are closely packed and vibrate in place; in liquids, they are close but can move past each other; in gases, particles are far apart and move freely.

Particle Arrangement

The arrangement of particles in a substance determines its state. In gases, particles are widely spaced, allowing them to fill the container they occupy. This contrasts with liquids, where particles are closer together but can still flow, and solids, where particles are tightly packed in a fixed structure.

Kinetic Molecular Theory

The Kinetic Molecular Theory explains the behavior of particles in different states of matter. It posits that gas particles are in constant, random motion and that their energy increases with temperature. This theory helps to understand why gases expand to fill their containers and have lower densities compared to liquids and solids.