Matter around us can exist in three different states, namely, solid, l

Matter around us can exist in three different states, namely, solid, liquid and gas. The correct order of their compressibility is

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[amp_mcq option1=”Liquid < Gas < Solid" option2="Solid < Liquid < Gas" option3="Gas < Liquid < Solid" option4="Solid < Gas < Liquid" correct="option2"]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is B) Solid < Liquid < Gas.

Compressibility is the measure of how much the volume of a substance decreases under pressure.
– Solids: Particles are tightly packed and held in fixed positions. They are very difficult to compress.
– Liquids: Particles are close together but can move past each other. They are only slightly compressible, much less so than gases.
– Gases: Particles are far apart and move randomly. There are large spaces between particles, making them highly compressible.
Therefore, the order of increasing compressibility is Solid < Liquid < Gas.

The difference in compressibility between the states of matter is due to the varying distances between the particles and the strength of intermolecular forces. Gases have the largest intermolecular distances, allowing them to be compressed significantly. Liquids have much smaller distances, and solids have the smallest, making them almost incompressible under normal pressures.

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