What are the three main states of matter?

The three main states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas.

In a solid state, particles are closely packed together in a fixed arrangement, which gives solids a definite shape and volume. The strong intermolecular forces in solids limit the movement of the particles, resulting in a rigid structure.

In a liquid state, particles are still closely packed but are free to move around each other. This allows liquids to take the shape of their container while maintaining a definite volume, as the intermolecular forces are weaker than in solids but still significant enough to keep the particles close together.

In a gas state, particles are far apart and move freely, which allows gases to expand and fill any container they are in. The intermolecular forces in gases are very weak, resulting in no definite shape or volume.

Other options include variations of these states, such as plasma and vapor. Plasma is often considered a fourth state of matter, consisting of ionized gas with free-moving charged particles, commonly found in stars. Vapor refers specifically to the gaseous state of substances that are typically solid or liquid at room temperature. However, the fundamental states of matter recognized in classical physics remain solid, liquid, and gas.