1) Instead of using the word "random",is it acceptable to say particles in a liquid move about in "different" directions?
2) Why does ice have a higher density than water vapour? Is it because ice has a greater mass in a fixed volume?
3) The statement "Particles in a gas are lighter than particles in a solid." is incorrect. Is it because a particle in a gas has the same mass as a particle in a solid and the difference is that a solid has more particles than a gas?
1) Instead of using the word "random",is it acceptable to say particles in a liquid move about in "different" directions?
I think the alternative wording is fine.
2) Why does ice have a higher density than water vapour? Is it because ice has a greater mass in a fixed volume?
Yes, because water expands when it freezes.
3) The statement "Particles in a gas are lighter than particles in a solid." is incorrect. Is it because a particle in a gas has the same mass as a particle in a solid and the difference is that a solid has more particles than a gas?
If the particles in the gas and the solid are the same, of course they have the same mass. I think the word you are looking for is that the solid is more dense than the gas.
1) Yes, instead of using the word "random," it is acceptable to say that particles in a liquid move about in "different" directions. The movement of particles in a liquid is referred to as "Brownian motion," where particles undergo continuous and random motion due to collisions with other particles in the liquid. This motion is not predictable or in any specific order, hence the use of the term "random." However, if you prefer to use the term "different" to describe the motion of particles, it can convey the same idea.
2) Ice does have a higher density than water vapor, but it is not because ice has a greater mass in a fixed volume. Density is defined as the mass of an object divided by its volume. In this case, the mass of ice and water vapor may vary, but the volume of a fixed quantity of the substances remains the same.
The reason ice has a higher density than water vapor is due to the arrangement of water molecules. In the liquid state, water molecules are loosely packed and have higher energy, causing them to move more freely. When water cools and freezes into ice, the molecules arrange themselves in a lattice structure, forming a more ordered and compact arrangement. This compact arrangement results in a higher density compared to water vapor, where the water molecules are further apart and have more space between them.
3) The statement "Particles in a gas are lighter than particles in a solid" is incorrect. The weight or mass of a particle is not determined by the state of matter it is in. Mass is an inherent property of a particle and remains constant regardless of its physical state.
The difference between particles in a gas and a solid lies in their arrangement and behavior. In a gas, particles are in constant motion and have high kinetic energy. They are farther apart and exhibit rapid and random motion. On the other hand, particles in a solid are closely packed, have strong intermolecular forces, and vibrate around fixed positions.
It is not accurate to say that a solid has more particles than a gas. The number of particles in a substance may vary depending on the quantity and conditions, but it does not determine the state of matter. The primary distinction between a solid and a gas lies in the arrangement and behavior of the particles, rather than the mass or quantity of particles.