Why is a solid a solid?

Answer 1

Solids have fixed shapes because the bonds in the particles it is made from are held tightly together, meaning they are harder to break.

It is unlike a liquid, which take the form of it's container; and unlike a gas, who's particles bounce around until they hit a surface which they bounce back from.

The only way to change the shape of a solid is to either break it, or maybe melt it down to the shape you want.

Answer 2

When a substance forms a solid, its molecules or atoms are at their lowest energy phase. This means that they are relatively still and compact, so there is no space between the particles. This translates as a solid object.

Answer 3

As opposed to liquids, whose particles are packed loosely, and gases, whose particles are barely hanging together, solids' particles are packed very tightly. Other solids whose particles are packed more loosely and liquids/gasses cannot break through the particles of the tighter-packed particles.

Answer 4

Solids have low temperature (average kinetic energy of molecules) and therefore the molecules in them tend to stay where they are and stick close to each other therefore making a solid rigid.

Answer 5

it's because the particles are arranged together in a fixed shape

Answer 6

a solid is something that takes up a fixed amount of space (takes up space e.g. a table or a chair) and has no air in it

Answer 7

A solid is solid due to the strong intermolecular forces between its particles, which prevent them from moving past each other. This results in a fixed shape and volume for solids.