Question

In which of the following states of matter are the intermolecular forces much greater than the internal kinetic energy?

solid

liquid

gas

plasma



Which of the following states of matter is always a good conductor of electricity?

solid

liquid

gas

Answer 1

The 1st one would be solid. the 2nd would be gas.

Answer 2

You're right on the first question.

Let's think about the second one.

Conducting electricity requires that electrons move between atoms in the substance. Think of this moving of electrons to be like hand-shakes. Are hand-shakes easier to give when you're close to someone or when you're far away?

Now think about the spacing of atoms and molecules in gases, solids, and liquids. Which state gets me close enough to make that hand-shake?