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Solid vs. Gas — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 27, 2023
Solid is a state of matter with definite shape and volume, while gas lacks a fixed shape or volume, filling its container.
Solid vs. Gas — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Solid and Gas

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Key Differences

Solid and gas represent two of the primary states of matter. In the solid state, particles are closely packed, lending the substance a definite shape and volume. Conversely, in the gaseous state, particles move freely, making gas adapt to the shape and volume of its container.
Temperature and pressure play pivotal roles in determining whether a substance remains a solid or transitions to a gas. For solids, increasing temperature can lead to melting, while for gases, increasing pressure or decreasing temperature can cause condensation.
The behavior of particles in a solid is starkly different from that in a gas. In solids, particles vibrate around fixed positions, maintaining the substance's structure. In gases, particles exhibit rapid, random motion, allowing gases to spread out indefinitely unless confined.
From a tactile perspective, solids are typically hard or firm to touch, exhibiting resistance to external force. Gases, however, are intangible and cannot be felt in the same way, though one might feel the pressure or movement of a gas, such as wind.
In practical applications, solids are often used for their sturdiness and stability, like in construction materials. Gases find myriad uses, from fuel sources to providing breathable air, highlighting their versatile nature despite their intangibility.
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Comparison Chart

Particle Arrangement

Closely packed particles
Freely moving particles

Volume and Shape

Definite shape and volume
Adapts to shape and volume of its container

Response to Temperature

Melts with increased temperature
Condenses with decreased temperature

Tangibility

Tangible and often firm
Intangible

Practical Use

Building materials, objects
Fuel, breathable air, etc.

Compare with Definitions

Solid

Complete and undivided.
He worked for a solid five hours.

Gas

A state of matter without a fixed shape or volume.
Oxygen is a gas essential for human life.

Solid

Solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being liquid, gas and plasma). The molecules in a solid are closely packed together and contain the least amount of kinetic energy.

Gas

A substance used as fuel.
The car is low on gas.

Solid

Of definite shape and volume; not liquid or gaseous
It was so cold the water in the bucket became solid.

Gas

Gas is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, liquid, and plasma).A pure gas may be made up of individual atoms (e.g. a noble gas like neon), elemental molecules made from one type of atom (e.g.

Solid

(Mathematics) Of or relating to three-dimensional geometric figures or bodies.

Gas

A substance or matter in a state in which it will expand freely to fill the whole of a container, having no fixed shape (unlike a solid) and no fixed volume (unlike a liquid)
Hot balls of gas that become stars
Poisonous gases

Solid

Firm or compact in substance
The floor was solid and would not give way.

Gas

Short for gasoline
We stopped for gas

Solid

Not hollowed out
A solid block of wood.

Gas

An entertaining or amusing person or situation
The party would be a gas

Solid

Being the same substance or color throughout
Solid gold.

Gas

Kill or harm by exposure to gas
My son was gassed at Verdun

Solid

Having no gaps or breaks; continuous
A solid line of people.
Worked for a solid week.

Gas

Talk excessively about trivial matters
I thought you'd never stop gassing

Solid

Acting together; unanimous
A solid voting bloc.

Gas

Fill the tank of (a motor vehicle) with petrol
After gassing up the car, he went into the restaurant

Solid

Written without a hyphen or space. For example, the word software is a solid compound.

Gas

Very amusing or entertaining
Ruthie, that's gas—you're a gem

Solid

(Printing) Having no leads between the lines.

Gas

The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by relatively low density and viscosity, relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature, the ability to diffuse readily, and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container.

Solid

Of good quality
Off to a solid start.

Gas

A substance in the gaseous state.

Solid

Substantial; hearty
A solid meal.

Gas

Any of various mixtures of flammable gases used for lighting, heating, or cooking.

Solid

Sound; reliable
Solid facts.

Gas

Gasoline.

Solid

Financially sound
A solid business.

Gas

The speed control of a gasoline engine. Used with the
Step on the gas.

Solid

Upstanding or dependable
A solid citizen.

Gas

A gaseous asphyxiant, irritant, or poison.

Solid

(Slang) Excellent; first-rate.

Gas

A gaseous anesthetic, such as nitrous oxide.

Solid

A substance having a definite shape and volume; one that is neither liquid nor gaseous.

Gas

Flatulence.

Solid

(Mathematics) A geometric figure having three dimensions.

Gas

Flatus.

Solid

Without a break or opening; completely or continuously
The theater was booked solid for a month.

Gas

(Slang) Idle or boastful talk.

Solid

As a whole; unanimously
The committee voted solid for the challenger.

Gas

(Slang) Someone or something exceptionally exciting or entertaining
The party was a gas.

Solid

(of an object or substance) That can be picked up or held, having a texture, and usually firm. Unlike a liquid, gas or plasma.
Almost all metals are solid at room temperature.

Gas

To treat chemically with gas.

Solid

Large in size, quantity, or value.

Gas

To overcome, disable, or kill with poisonous fumes.

Solid

Lacking holes, hollows or admixtures of other materials.
Solid gold
Solid chocolate

Gas

To give off gas.

Solid

Strong or unyielding.
A solid foundation

Gas

(Slang) To talk excessively.

Solid

(slang) Excellent, of high quality, or reliable.
That's a solid plan.
Radiohead's on tour! Have you heard their latest album yet? It's quite solid.
I don't think Dave would have done that. He's a solid dude.

Gas

Matter in an intermediate state between liquid and plasma that can be contained only if it is fully surrounded by a solid (or in a bubble of liquid, or held together by gravitational pull); it can condense into a liquid, or can (rarely) become a solid directly by deposition.
A lot of gas had escaped from the cylinder.

Solid

Hearty; filling.
A solid meal

Gas

(uncountable) A flammable gaseous hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture used as a fuel, e.g. for cooking, heating, electricity generation or as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles, especially natural gas.
Gas-fired power stations have largely replaced coal-burning ones.

Solid

Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial; not frivolous or fallacious.

Gas

Poison gas.
The artillery fired gas shells into the enemy trenches.

Solid

Financially well off; wealthy.

Gas

A chemical element or compound in such a state.
The atmosphere is made up of a number of different gases.

Solid

Sound; not weak.
A solid constitution of body

Gas

(countable) A hob on a gas cooker.
She turned the gas on, put the potatoes on, then lit the oven.

Solid

(typography) Written as one word, without spaces or hyphens.
American English writes many words as solid that British English hyphenates.

Gas

(uncountable) Methane or other waste gases trapped in one's belly as a result of the digestive process; flatus.
My tummy hurts so bad – I have gas.

Solid

Not having the lines separated by leads; not open.

Gas

(slang) A humorous or entertaining event or person.

Solid

United; without division; unanimous.
The delegation is solid for a candidate.

Gas

(slang) Frothy or boastful talk; chatter.

Solid

Of a single color throughout.
John painted the walls solid white.
He wore a solid shirt with floral pants.

Gas

(baseball) A fastball.
The closer threw him nothing but gas.

Solid

(of drawn lines) Continuous; unbroken; not dotted or dashed.
The solid lines show roads, and the dotted lines footpaths.

Gas

Arterial or venous blood gas.

Solid

(dated) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic.
A solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.

Gas

Marijuana, typically of high quality.

Solid

(of volumes of materials) Measured as a single solid, as the volumes of individual pieces added together without any gaps.

Gas

, a light derivative of petroleum used as fuel.

Solid

(chemistry) A substance in the fundamental state of matter that retains its size and shape without need of a container (as opposed to a liquid or gas).

Gas

Ellipsis of gas pedal

Solid

(geometry) A three-dimensional figure (as opposed to a surface, an area, or a curve).

Gas

An internal virtual currency used in Ethereum to pay for certain operations, such as blockchain transactions.
Gas fee

Solid

(informal) A favor.
Please do me a solid: lend me your car for one week.
I owe him; he did me a solid last year.

Gas

(transitive) To attack or kill with poison gas.
The Nazis gassed millions of Jews during the Holocaust.
He never fully recovered after he was gassed on the Western Front.

Solid

An article of clothing which is of a single color throughout.
I prefer solids over paisleys.

Gas

To talk in a boastful or vapid way; chatter.

Solid

(in the plural) Food which is not liquid-based.
The doctor said I can't eat any solids four hours before the operation.

Gas

To impose upon by talking boastfully.

Solid

Solidly.

Gas

(intransitive) To emit gas.
The battery cell was gassing.

Solid

Without spaces or hyphens.
Many long-established compounds are set solid.

Gas

(transitive) To impregnate with gas.
To gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder

Solid

Having the constituent parts so compact, or so firmly adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; - opposed to fluid and liquid or to plastic, like clay, or to incompact, like sand.

Gas

(transitive) To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers.
To gas thread

Solid

Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as distinguished from a hollow one; not spongy; dense; hence, sometimes, heavy.

Gas

(US) To give a vehicle more fuel in order to accelerate it.
The cops are coming. Gas it!

Solid

Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as, a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.

Gas

(US) To fill (a vehicle's fuel tank) with fuel.

Solid

Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid pier; a solid pile; a solid wall.

Gas

(slang) comical, zany; fun, amusing.
Mary's new boyfriend is a gas man.
It was gas when the bird flew into the classroom.

Solid

Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; - opposed to hyphened.

Gas

An aëriform fluid; - a term used at first by chemists as synonymous with air, but since restricted to fluids supposed to be permanently elastic, as oxygen, hydrogen, etc., in distinction from vapors, as steam, which become liquid on a reduction of temperature. In present usage, since all of the supposed permanent gases have been liquified by cold and pressure, the term has resumed nearly its original signification, and is applied to any substance in the elastic or aëriform state.

Solid

Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as opposed to frivolous or fallacious; weighty; firm; strong; valid; just; genuine.
The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer.
These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the name of solid men.
The genius of the Italians wrought by solid toil what the myth-making imagination of the Germans had projected in a poem.

Gas

A complex mixture of gases, of which the most important constituents are marsh gas, olefiant gas, and hydrogen, artificially produced by the destructive distillation of gas coal, or sometimes of peat, wood, oil, resin, etc. It gives a brilliant light when burned, and is the common gas used for illuminating purposes.

Solid

Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body.

Gas

Same as gasoline; - a shortened form. Also, the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".

Solid

Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem.

Gas

The accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".

Solid

Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other material particle or atom from any given portion of space; - applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter.

Gas

Same as natural gas.

Solid

Not having the lines separated by leads; not open.

Gas

An exceptionally enjoyable event; a good time; as, The concert was a gas.

Solid

United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation is solid for a candidate.
Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard house,More harder than the stones whereof 't is raised.
I hear his thundering voice resound,And trampling feet than shake the solid ground.

Gas

To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers; as, to gas thread.

Solid

A substance that is held in a fixed form by cohesion among its particles; a substance not fluid.

Gas

To impregnate with gas; as, to gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder.

Solid

A magnitude which has length, breadth, and thickness; a part of space bounded on all sides.

Gas

To expose to a poisonous or noxious gas

Solid

A substance that is solid at room temperature and pressure

Gas

The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container

Solid

The state in which a substance has no tendency to flow under moderate stress; resists forces (such as compression) that tend to deform it; and retains a definite size and shape

Gas

A fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely

Solid

A three-dimensional shape

Gas

A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines

Solid

Of definite shape and volume; firm; neither liquid nor gaseous;
Ice is water in the solid state
Water and milk and blood are liquid substances

Gas

A state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal

Solid

Of good substantial quality;
Solid comfort
A solid base hit

Gas

A pedal that controls the throttle valve;
He stepped on the gas

Solid

Entirely of one substance with no holes inside;
Solid silver
A solid block of wood

Gas

A fossil fuel in the gaseous state; used for cooking and heating homes

Solid

Of one substance or character throughout;
Solid gold
A solid color
Carved out of solid rock

Gas

Attack with gas; subject to gas fumes;
The despot gassed the rebellious tribes

Solid

Uninterrupted in space; having no gaps or breaks;
A solid line across the page
Solid sheets of water

Gas

Show off

Solid

Providing abundant nourishment;
A hearty meal
Good solid food
Ate a substantial breakfast

Gas

A vaporous substance harmful or irritating to inhale.
The room filled with noxious gas.

Solid

Of good quality and condition; solidly built;
A solid foundation
Several substantial timber buildings

Gas

Informal talk or exaggerated stories.
Don't listen to him; it's all gas.

Solid

Having high moral qualities;
A noble spirit
A solid citizen
An upstanding man
A worthy successor

Gas

To fill a vehicle's tank with fuel.
I need to gas up before our trip.

Solid

Not soft or yielding to pressure;
A firm mattress
The snow was firm underfoot
Solid ground

Solid

Having three dimensions;
A solid object

Solid

Incapable of being seen through;
Solid blackness

Solid

Entirely of a single color throughout;
A solid fabric

Solid

Acting together as a single undiversified whole;
A solid voting bloc

Solid

A substance with fixed shape and volume.
Ice is a solid form of water.

Solid

Firm and resistant to pressure.
The ground was solid beneath his feet.

Solid

Not hollow or containing spaces.
The box was solid wood.

Solid

Reliable or dependable.
Their friendship was solid.

Common Curiosities

Can gas be compressed more than a solid?

Generally, yes. Gases are more compressible due to the larger spaces between particles.

Do solids have moving particles?

Yes, but they vibrate around fixed positions, unlike the rapid motion in gases.

Is every hard object a solid?

In terms of states of matter, yes. But "solid" can also mean "reliable" or "continuous" in other contexts.

How do gases fill their containers?

Gas particles move freely and spread out to occupy all available space.

Can gases have different colors?

While most are colorless, some gases, like chlorine, have distinct colors.

Are solid and gas opposite states of matter?

Yes, solid is characterized by a fixed shape and volume, while gas adapts to its container.

Why don't solids flow like liquids or gases?

The close arrangement of particles in solids restricts them from flowing.

Do solids have a lower energy than gases?

Typically, yes. Solid particles have less kinetic energy than gas particles.

Can a substance change from solid to gas?

Yes, through sublimation, like dry ice transitioning to carbon dioxide gas.

Why can't I hold gas like a solid object?

Because gas particles move freely, making it intangible and without a fixed shape.

Are gases always invisible?

Many are, but some can be colored or become visible under certain conditions.

Why do gases exert pressure?

Because of the continuous motion and collision of gas particles against container walls.

What's the middle state between solid and gas?

Liquid, which has a definite volume but adapts to the shape of its container.

Can a solid turn directly into a gas?

Yes, through a process called sublimation.

Can you give an example of a substance that's both solid and gas?

Water can exist as ice (solid) and water vapor (gas) under different conditions.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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