What Is Matter and How Does It Change?

Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. There are three main states: solid, liquid, and gas.

States of Matter

• Solid: Has a definite shape and volume.
• Liquid: Has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container.
• Gas: Takes the shape and volume of its container.

Changing States

Matter can change from one state to another when energy is added or removed:

• Melting: Solid to liquid.
• Evaporation: Liquid to gas.
• Condensation: Gas to liquid.
• Freezing: Liquid to solid.

Everyday Science

Understanding states of matter helps us cook food, build things, and even predict the weather!