Which state of matter has no fixed shape and takes on the space they're in and contains the most energy?

Which state of matter has no fixed shape and takes on the space they're in and contains the most energy?

• A. Gases
• B. Plasmas
• C. Solids
• D. Liquids

Answer: (A)

Gases have no fixed shape or volume and will expand to fill the space available; their particles move freely and spread out to occupy the container, so they take on the space they’re in. Because the particles in a gas have relatively high kinetic energy and are far apart, gases carry more energy than solids or liquids, making them the most energetic of the common states of matter in this context. Plasmas are also highly energetic ionized states, but they’re a distinct category beyond the basic gas–liquid–solid trio.

Gases have no fixed shape or volume and will expand to fill the space available; their particles move freely and spread out to occupy the container, so they take on the space they’re in. Because the particles in a gas have relatively high kinetic energy and are far apart, gases carry more energy than solids or liquids, making them the most energetic of the common states of matter in this context. Plasmas are also highly energetic ionized states, but they’re a distinct category beyond the basic gas–liquid–solid trio.