Condensed State

The condensed state of a substance is its solid and liquid states. In contrast to the gaseous state, there is a certain degree of ordering in the arrangement of the particles (ions, atoms, molecules) of the substance in the condensed state. Crystalline solids exhibit a high degree of ordering—long-range order in particle arrangement. The particles of liquids and amorphous solids are arranged in a more random manner and are characterized by short-range order. The properties of substances in the condensed state are determined by their structure as well as by particle interaction.