How KMT Explains States of Matter

Play with the interaction embedded below.  Think about what is meant by "strong" and "weak" attractions between molecules.

The state of a substance depends on the balance between the kinetic energy of the individual particles (molecules or atoms) and the intermolecular forces (positive and negative attractions). The kinetic energy keeps the molecules apart and moving around, and is a function of the temperature of the substance. The intermolecular forces are attractive forces that try to draw the particles together. A discussed previously, gasses are very sensitive to temperatures and pressure. However, these also affect liquids and solids too. Heating and cooling can change the kinetic energy (movement) of the particles in a substance, and so, we can change the physical state of a substance by heating or cooling it. Increasing the pressure on a substance forces the molecules closer together, which increases the strength of intermolecular forces.