Solids

Solids have definite shape and volume.  Solids are composed of particles that vibrate close to one another but lack the energy to break free.  This allows them to have a definite shape.  There are two types of solids.  Crystalline solids and Non-crystalline solids.

Crystalline Solids

Most solids consist of particles that form a definite geometric shape called a crystal.  The difference between one solid and another is the type and shape of the crystal forms. 

 

Non-crystalline Solids

These types of solids are called amorphous solids because they do not have crystals that form when they turn into a solid.  Examples of this class of solid would be some plastics, wax and glass.  Some scientists actually feel that if a solid has no crystalline formation that it  could possibly be classified as a very thick liquid.  This again is because of the lack of crystalline lattice work to hold it together.

Back