Solids are one of the three states of matter and, unlike liquids or gases, they have a definite shape that is not easy to change.
Different solids have particular properties such as stretch, STRENGTH, or hardness that make them useful for different jobs. Most
solids are made up of tiny crystals. This is because their particles are
arranged in a regular pattern, called a CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE.
Some solids can be hammered or squashed into many different shapes without
breaking. They are known as malleable materials. Other solids, such as biscuits
or glass, will not bend when hammered or squashed, but will break and split.
These materials are brittle.
Shape memory metals can remember their shape. When brought to a
certain temperature, these metals can be set to a shape that they never forget.
They have many uses, including repairing broken bones. Even if the bones move,
the metal always returns to its original shape, bringing the bones back to
their correct position.
Some solids, such as the metal copper, can be pulled and stretched
easily into extremely thin wires. They are known as ductile materials. They
have this property because their particles are not held in a rigid structure,
but are arranged in rows that can slide past one another. Copper can be
stretched into a thread half the width of a human hair, and is used in many
kinds of wiring, including electrical and telephone wiring.
Some solids, such as steel or concrete, are difficult to
break, even if they are made to carry a heavy weight. This is because their
particles are bound together very strongly. Such materials are said to have
high strength and are used to construct bridges and buildings. Strength is a
different property from hardness. Hard materials cannot be bent or scratched
easily.
Hardness is a measure of how easily a material can be scratched.
Mohs hardness scale arranges 10 minerals from 1 to 10. The higher the number,
the harder the mineral. Each mineral in the scale will scratch all those below
it. Other materials can be compared to these minerals. Copper, for example, has
a hardness of 2.5.
Table 1. MOHS HARDNESS SCALE
| MINERAL | MOH |
|---|
| Diamond | 10 |
| Corundum | 9 |
| Topaz | 8 |
| Quartz | 7 |
| Feldspar | 6 |
| Apatite | 5 |
| Fluorite | 4 |
| Calcite | 3 |
| Gypsum | 2 |
| Talc | 1 |
Most solids, such as metals, salt, and sugar, are made up
of tiny crystals. Their particles are arranged in regular three-dimensional
patterns such as cubes or hexagonal shapes. Not all solids are like this,
however. The particles of glass, for example, are not arranged in a regular
pattern, and so glass does not have a crystalline structure. Its structure is
described as amorphous.
