What is the Difference Between Liquid and Gas?

The main difference between liquids and gases lies in their shape, volume, and molecular behavior. Here are the key differences:

• Shape: Gases do not have a definite shape and take the shape of their container, while liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape, taking the shape of the part of the container they occupy.
• Volume: Gases do not have a definite volume, whereas liquids have a definite volume.
• Molecular arrangement: In gases, particles are well separated with no regular arrangement, while in liquids, particles are close together with no regular arrangement.
• Molecular motion: Gas particles move freely and slide past one another, while liquid particles can move/slide past one another but are influenced by stronger intermolecular interactions.
• Compressibility: Gases are easily compressible due to the large spaces between particles, while liquids are not easily compressible because of the smaller spaces between particles.
• Motion: Gases flow easily in all directions, while liquids flow easily from a higher level to a lower level.

Comparative Table: Liquid vs Gas

Here is a table summarizing the differences between liquids and gases:

Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape, taking the shape of the container they are in. They cannot be compressed due to their strong intermolecular forces. In contrast, gases do not have a definite volume or shape and can be compressed, as their particles have more space between them and can move freely.