Solid is the state in which matter maintains a fixed volume and shape, liquid is the state in which matter adapts to the shape of its container but varies only slightly in volume, and gas is the state in which matter expands to occupy the volume and shape of its container.

Historically, the states of matter were distinguished based on qualitative differences in their bulk properties. Much of the atomic matter of the universe is hot plasma in the form of rarefied interstellar medium and dense stars. Further states, such as quark-gluon plasmas, are also believed to be possible. In extreme environments, other states may be present, such as plasma, Bose-Einstein condensates, and neutron stars. The three states of matter are the three distinct physical forms that matter can take in most environments: solid, liquid, and gas. solid: A substance that retains its size and shape without a container a substance whose molecules cannot move freely except to vibrate.gas: A substance that can only be contained if it is fully surrounded by a container (or held together by gravitational pull) a substance whose molecules have negligible intermolecular interactions and can move freely.It takes the shape of its container but maintains constant volume. liquid: A substance that flows and keeps no definite shape because its molecules are loosely packed and constantly moving.Gaseous matter is composed of particles packed so loosely that it has neither a defined shape nor a defined volume.Particles can move about within a liquid, but they are packed densely enough that volume is maintained. Liquid matter is made of more loosely packed particles.A solid will retain its shape the particles are not free to move around. Solid matter is composed of tightly packed particles.

Matter can exist in one of three main states: solid, liquid, or gas.

What is matter made of