List 10 Types of Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Examples of Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Types of Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Types of Solids, Liquids, and Gases.

Hugo Lin, ThoughtCo. 
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on January 24, 2020

Naming examples of solids, liquids, and gases is a common homework assignment because it makes you think about phase changes and the states of matter.

Key Takeaways: Examples of Solids, Liquids, and Gases

  • The three main states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Plasma is the fourth state of matter. Several exotic states also exist.
  • A solid has a defined shape and volume. A common example is ice.
  • A liquid has a defined volume, but can change state. An example is liquid water.
  • A gas has neither a defined shape nor volume. Water vapor is an example of a gas.

Examples of Solids

Solids are a form of matter that has a definite shape and volume.

  1. Gold
  2. Wood
  3. Sand
  4. Steel
  5. Brick
  6. Rock
  7. Copper
  8. Brass
  9. Apple
  10. Aluminum foil
  11. Ice
  12. Butter

Examples of Liquids

Liquids are a form of matter that has a definite volume but no defined shape. Liquids can flow and assume the shape of their container.

  1. Water
  2. Milk
  3. Blood
  4. Urine
  5. Gasoline
  6. Mercury (an element)
  7. Bromine (an element)
  8. Wine
  9. Rubbing alcohol
  10. Honey
  11. Coffee

Examples of Gases

A gas is a form of matter that does not have a defined shape or volume. Gases expand to fill the space they are given.

  1. Air
  2. Helium
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Freon
  5. Carbon dioxide
  6. Water vapor
  7. Hydrogen
  8. Natural gas
  9. Propane
  10. Oxygen
  11. Ozone
  12. Hydrogen sulfide

Phase Changes

Depending on the temperature and pressure, the matter may transition from one state into another: 

  • Solids may melt into liquids
  • Solids may sublimate into gases (sublimation)
  • Liquids may vaporize into gases
  • Liquids may freeze into solids
  • Gases may condense into liquids
  • Gases may deposit into solids (deposition)

Increasing pressure and decreasing temperature forces atoms and molecules closer to each other so their arrangement becomes more ordered. Gases become liquids; liquids become solids. On the other hand, increasing temperature and decreasing pressure allows particles to move father apart. Solids become liquids; liquids become gases. Depending on the conditions, a substance may skip a phase, so a solid may become a gas or a gas may become a solid without experiencing the liquid phase.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "List 10 Types of Solids, Liquids, and Gases." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/types-of-solids-liquids-and-gases-608354. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2023, April 5). List 10 Types of Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-solids-liquids-and-gases-608354 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "List 10 Types of Solids, Liquids, and Gases." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-solids-liquids-and-gases-608354 (accessed April 26, 2024).