The basic difference between gas and liquid is that Gas has molecules that are widely spaced, with high energy, and take the shape of their container. Liquid has closer-packed molecules, moderate energy, and maintains a fixed volume but takes the shape of its container.
What is gas?
Gas is one of the four fundamental states of matter, characterized by molecules that are widely spaced and have high kinetic energy. It does not have a fixed shape or volume and fills the space available to it.
Matter exists in three primary states: solid, liquid, and gas. A gas is a state of matter in which the particles (atoms or molecules) are widely spaced and have enough kinetic energy to move freely and independently of each other. Gases have no definite shape or volume and will uniformly fill any container they are placed in.
What is liquid?
The liquid is one of the four fundamental states of matter, alongside solid, gas, and plasma. It is characterized by having molecules or atoms that are close together but still able to move past each other. Unlike gas, liquids have a fixed volume, but they do not have a fixed shape, instead taking the shape of their container.
Gas is one of the four fundamental states of matter, along with solid, liquid, and plasma. It is composed of molecules or atoms that are in a highly disordered and chaotic state, compared to the more structured arrangements seen in solids and liquids.
These gas particles move freely and rapidly, colliding with each other and with the walls of their container. The behavior of gas is governed by fundamental principles like Boyle’s law, Charles’s law, and the ideal gas law.
Gas Vs Liquid
The primary difference between gas and liquid is given below:
| Property | Gas | Liquid |
| Shape | Takes the shape of its container. | Takes the shape of its container, but has a definite volume. |
| Volume | Expands to fill available space. | Has a definite volume. |
| Density | Lower density. | Higher density. |
| Intermolecular forces | Weak intermolecular forces. | Stronger intermolecular forces. |
| Compressibility | Highly compressible. | Less compressible. |
| Diffusion | Rapid diffusion. | Slower diffusion. |
| Molecular motion | High molecular motion. | Moderate molecular motion. |
| Examples | Oxygen, helium, nitrogen, etc. | Water, oil, milk, etc. |