Properties and Behavior of Gases

Gases are a state of matter where the particles are widely spaced and move freely. This allows gases to expand and fill any container they are placed in, taking both the shape and the volume of the container. The particles in a gas are constantly moving and colliding with each other and the walls of their container. These collisions are what create pressure in gases.

Gas Expansion and Compression

Unlike solids and liquids, gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume. Because the particles are spread out, gases can be compressed much more easily than solids or liquids. This is why a gas like air can be compressed into a small tank or balloon. Temperature also plays a significant role in the behavior of gases. As a gas is heated, the particles move faster and spread out more, causing the gas to expand. Cooling the gas makes the particles slow down, and the gas contracts.