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Matter around us can exist in three different states, namely, solid, liquid and gas. The correct order of their compressibility is
Explanation
Matter exists in three primary states: solid, liquid, and gas. Compressibility refers to the ability of a substance to decrease in volume under applied pressure [1]. In solids, particles are tightly packed with negligible interparticle spacing and strong attractive forces, making them the least compressible state [1]. Liquids have slightly more interparticle space than solids, allowing for very small volume changes, though they are often considered nearly incompressible in practical terms [1]. In contrast, gases have large distances between particles and weak intermolecular forces, allowing them to be highly compressed as particles move closer together under pressure. Therefore, the correct increasing order of compressibility is Solid < Liquid < Gas, where solids have the lowest and gases have the highest capacity for compression.
Sources
- [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions > 9.5.3 Effect of pressure on density > p. 148