AMatterofPhase.org

What are solids?

Solids are types of matter that have tightly compact atoms preventing their change of phase with ease, without help of course.

Key points of solids

Fixed Shape & Volume: Solids hold their shape and volume, no matter what container they're in. Think of a block of ice - it stays a block even if you put it in a bowl.
Strong Bonds: THe atoms and molecules in a solid are held together by strong ofrces called bonds. These bonds make the particles vibrate in place, but they don't have much freedom to move around.
High Density: Because the particles are tightly packed, solids have a high density. This means they have a lot of mass in a small space.
Low Compressibility: Solids are difficult to compress because their particles are already close together. You can't squeeze a rock much smaller, right?

What phases can solids take?

The phases that solids can take depends on what type of solid they are. For example, if you heat up glass to a certain degree, it melts and turns into a form of liquid that you are able to bend if the heat is consistent. That's how glass vases are made!