Why does a liquid take the shape of its container but does not expand to fill its volume?

Answer 1

bc a liquid has fixed molecules, and cannot expand unless changed to a different state of matter. When changed to a gas, this liquid's molecules move much faster and can expand to take more room. When changed to a solid (frozen) the mass expands by a little bit, and the molecules slow down.

Answer 2

The amount of particles and molecules in the substance don't always add up to the amount of room in it's container. When the liquid is in the state of matter that is is currently in, the molecules/particles cannot expand only move closer together and further apart. But in order to fill up the container, the molecules would have to expand, but in doing that, they would need more thermal energy which would turn the substance into a gas instead of a liquid. Therefore, the molecules cannot expand to fill a container completely.

Answer 3

The molecules in a liquid have an intermediate amount of energy compared to solids and gases. The molecules in a liquid have less energy than gases and are close enough that they form van der Waals forces which keep them from expanding infinitely like a gas.

Answer 4

A liquid takes the shape of its container because its particles can move freely and flow to conform to the container's shape. However, unlike gases, liquids are held together by cohesive forces that prevent them from expanding to fill their entire volume.

Answer 5

because the particles of a liquid are held together loosely enough to flow, but not so loose that they expand.

Answer 6

Lets say you have a water bottle, and you fill it half way up with water. The water will mold its self to the contours of the water bottle, but it will not expand and fill the entire bottle.