What is a liquid? Definition and properties

The main characteristics of liquids include the following:

• They do not have a fixed or defined shape.
• They take the shape of the container that contains them.
• They have fluency.
• They have a definite volume.
• Its molecules are not in a regular order.
• The forces of attraction and repulsion are balanced.
• When there is no gravity, they take on a spherical shape.

liquid properties

Matter is what makes up all things and can be described according to different properties, which are the characteristics or features of a substance or an object. Liquids, of course, have particular properties that distinguish them from other elements. Some of them are:

• Fluidity : this is a characteristic of liquids and also of gases, which allows them to be able to pass through any space regardless of its size.
• Viscosity : It is the resistance that occurs when the liquid flows. To cause the fluidity of a liquid it will be necessary to apply a force. If this force ends, as a consequence the movement of the liquid will also stop. Fluidity and viscosity are related to temperature and pressure. The higher the temperature or pressure, the more fluidity of the liquid.
• Adhesion : liquids have the ability to adhere to other substances and surfaces. It’s what happens when things get “wet.”
• Density – In liquids, density is almost independent of pressure.
• Capillarity : It is its ability to ascend or descend through a capillary, that is, a narrow tube.
• Surface tension: it is the force per unit length that the surface of the liquid exerts on a line located on it.
• Cohesion : is the force of attraction that occurs between equal molecules.

examples of liquids

Liquids abound in nature, in living beings and in our daily lives. Some of the most common examples are:

• Water: is the most abundant liquid on Earth.
• Vegetable oil: it is extracted from seeds or fruits.
• Ethanol: is an organic compound.
• Blood, saliva, milk: these are some of the many liquids that animals, including humans, possess and produce.
• Sap: it is a liquid from the interior of plants and trees.
• Petroleum: is an organic mixture of hydrocarbons that is used as fuel.
• Lava: also called terrestrial magma, it is the almost always very viscous fluid that volcanoes emit.
• Mercury: it is the only liquid metal at room temperature.
• Bromine: This is another chemical element that is also liquid at room temperature.
• Other elements such as francium, cesium, gallium, and rubidium only reach the liquid state at very high temperatures.

Bibliography

• Perez Sanfiel, FH; Raola González, O. Chemistry. A universe at your fingertips . (2020). Spain. Ruth Publishing House.
• Teacher Created Materials. Solid or liquid? (2017). Spain. Teacher Created Materials.
• Chang, R. Chemistry . (2020). Spain. McGraw-Hill.