Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
solid
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Diagram showing four physical states of matter: solid with tightly packed molecules, liquid with loosely packed molecules, gas with widely spaced molecules, and plasma with free electrons and nuclei, each labeled with descriptions and an arrow indicating increasing energy. A side-by-side diagram compares atomic motion in a liquid and a solid; the liquid shows atoms with tangled, overlapping paths, while the solid shows atoms vibrating in fixed, orderly positions. Diagram showing the phase changes of matter with three circles labeled solid, liquid, and gas. Arrows indicate transitions: melting and freezing between solid and liquid, evaporation and condensation between liquid and gas, and sublimation and deposition between solid and gas. An illustration shows an ice cube labeled solid, a puddle labeled liquid, and rising steam labeled gas, representing the three states of matter: ice, water, and water vapor, with the sun in the background.

solid: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Structure of Solids. Sep 26, 2026
Add new Web site: OpenStax - Chemistry 2e - The Solid State of Matter. Jul 29, 2026
Add new Web site: MIT OpenCourseWare - Introduction to Solid State Chemistry. Oct 29, 2024
Add new Web site: Open Washington Pressbooks - Chem&121: Introduction to Chemistry - Solid. Mar 07, 2024
Add new Web site: Campus Manitoba PressbooksEDU Network - Introductory Chemistry - The Solid State of Matter. Oct 17, 2023
Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Structure of Solids. Oct 19, 2022
Article revised and updated. Mar 25, 2020
Added illustration of states of matter. Mar 25, 2020
Add new Web site: Florida State University - Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry - Properties of solids. Mar 12, 2019
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Solid, Liquid and Gas facts for kids. Jan 27, 2017
Add new Web site: LiveScience - Properties of Matter: Solids. Jan 27, 2017
Add new Web site: Rader's Chem4Kids.com - Solid Basics. May 06, 2014
Add new Web site: Physical Science - The Particle Nature of Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Feb 18, 2011
Add new Web site: Physical Science - The Particle Nature of Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Feb 18, 2011
Added new Web site: Window To The Universe - Solid. May 10, 2009
Added new Web site: Science NetLinks - Water 3: Melting and Freezing. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: Science NetLinks - Water 3: Melting and Freezing. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: Rader's Chem4Kids.com - Solid Basics. Dec 15, 2008
Article revised and updated. Oct 06, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: