Arrange the three states of matter in the increasing order of (i) rate of diffusion (ii) particle motion.

(i) The three states of matter in the increasing order of rate of diffusion :

• Solid (slowest)

• Liquid (moderate)

• Gas (fastest)

Explanation:

Diffusion rate in solid is very slow; it is less than liquid because the particles in a solid do not move from their fixed position due to strong inter molecular force of attraction. They only vibrate about their fixed position.

Diffusion rate in the liquid is more than solid but less than gas because of the particles in a liquid move faster than solid due to the less intermolecular force of attraction and higher kinetic energy than the particles in a solid.

Diffusion rate in gas is very fast as the particles in a gas move very quickly in all directions due to the least intermolecular force of attraction and high kinetic energy.

(ii) The three states of matter in the increasing order of particles :

• Gas

• Liquid

• Solid

Explanation:

The particles in gas have the maximum space among them as they are least tightly packed. So the particles in a gas move about randomly in any direction due to high kinetic energy. The intermolecular force between the particles is the least.

The particles in a liquid are closer than in a gas. The intermolecular force is not strong enough to hold the particles in a fixed position. Hence, they do not have a fixed shape. They have more kinetic energy than solid.

The particles in a solid are closely packed. Hence the intermolecular force is strong enough to hold the particles in a fixed position. So solids have fixed shape.