This chapter discusses the three states of matter and the properties of solids, liquids, and gases. It explains that matter is anything that has mass and takes up space, and can exist as solids, liquids, or gases. The key differences between these three states are how their particles move and arrange themselves. In solids, particles vibrate in fixed positions. In liquids, particles move randomly but maintain a fixed volume. In gases, particles move randomly and spread out to fill their container. The rate of diffusion is lowest in solids and highest in gases. Changes between these three states occur when matter absorbs or releases heat, such as when melting, boiling, evaporating, condensing, freezing, or sublimating