the arrangement of particles in solids liquids and gases matter in all three states is made up of particles in a solid the particles are closely packed in an ordered arrangement in a liquid the particles are loosely arranged but still close together in a gas the particles are not arranged in any particular way the particles and make up matter are constantly in motion in a solid the particles do not move around but vibrate about their fixed positions in a liquid the particles move around quite fast and slide past each other in a gas the particles move around much faster than in a liquid they move randomly the particles have empty spaces between them the spaces contain nothing in a solid the particles have small spaces between them in a liquid the particles have small spaces between them but larger than in a solid in a gas the particles have very big spaces between them compared to solids and liquids the particles attract each other in a solid the forces of attraction between the particles are very strong these forces hold the particles together in a liquid the forces of attraction between the particles are weaker so the particles are not held together and move about in a gas the forces of attraction are extremely weak so the particles move about freely think about a pure substance such as mercury it is a solid below negative 39 degrees Celsius it is a liquid between negative 39 degrees Celsius and 357 degrees Celsius when heated above 357 degrees Celsius it turns into a gas the particles that make up mercury when mercury is a gas a liquid or a solid are exactly the same only the arrangement of the particles the forces between them the empty spaces between them and the speed of the particles are different you