Homework Trouble !

[lubo67]

My science homework is about solids, liquids and gases and one of the questions is ... You can pour salt into a salt celler, so why is salt not a liquid?
Please help !

[carrot99]

A solid is the state in which matter maintains a fixed volume and shape; liquid is the state in which matter maintains a fixed volume but adapts to the shape of its container; and gas is the state in which matter expands to occupy whatever volume is available.

The tiny little salt crystals keep their individual fixed volumes and shapes. Although they fill the salt cellar they do not truly adapt to its shape there will always be spaces between the crystals and walls of the cellar. A liquid would fill every crevice.

[Buenchico]

. . . or to put it another way . . .

A liquid will spread to take the shape of any container which it's poured into.

While the salt in the cellar may spread to roughly take up the shape of the cellar, consider what would happen if you emptied that cellar full of salt into the middle of a saucepan. You'd just get a pile of salt in the middle of the pan. (i.e. the salt wouldn't spread to take the shape of the saucepan, as would have happened if you'd have had water in the cellar, rather than salt).

Chris

[lubo67]

Thanks Guys :)

[paddiez]

because the salt is finely ground. It starts acting as a liquid.
Caster sugar,talcum powder,in fact, any solid finely ground where the particles do not adhere to each will act to an extent as a liquid.

[Buddie]

Congrats lubo67 on attempting to do your own homework. My daughter gets me to do hers half the time!

[Rollo]

If a substance is in a liquid state its molecules move freely about one another but do not fly apart.

When the substance is in its solid state the molecules remain in a fixed position relative to one another. This is what is happening with the salt grains.