Solids, liquids, gases and plasmas are four different states of matter. The types of differences that the atoms (particles) can have at a microscopic level are ones mostly examined and explained. The differences in their properties at a macroscopic level is not apparent or can be ignored. Macro refers to the very large.

Solid is the state of matter with the most tightly packed particles/atoms vibrating about a fixed point; they have definite shape and definite volume.

With liquids, they are in a state of matter where packed particles/atoms are able to slide past one another; have definite volume, but no definite shape. Gases work in a state of matter with large amounts of empty space between the particles; they have no definite shape and no definite volume. Lastly, plasma is in a state of matter where a gas has gained enough energy to become ionized; it has no definite shape and no definite volume.

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