What are the three states of matter?

The three states of matter students learn in elementary school are solid, liquid, and gas. A solid keeps its shape, a liquid takes the shape of its container, and a gas spreads out to fill any space.

What is a physical property of matter?

A physical property is a trait you can observe or measure without changing what the material is, like color, texture, hardness, shape, whether it floats, or whether it's magnetic. Scientists use physical properties to describe and classify matter.

How does matter change from one state to another?

Heating and cooling change the state of matter. Melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation all move matter between solid, liquid, and gas. These are physical changes, so they can be reversed, and the material stays the same substance.

Is plasma a state of matter?

Yes, plasma is often called the fourth state of matter, but it's not part of most elementary standards. In K-5, the focus stays on solids, liquids, and gases, which are the states students encounter every day.