How do solids, liquids and gases differ in volume?

In my high school chemistry days, I often wondered about the nature and the differences between solids, liquids and gases. Without going into too much scientific technicality, my simple thoughts about the existence of the three physical forms of molecules is Van der Waals (named after Dutch scientist Johannes Diderik van der Waals) forces of attraction or repulsion in atoms or in molecules. read more

Bad question! Solids only are defined by shape and volume. Liquids are defined by the shape of their container. Gases are the most illusive of all. read more