Balance of Forces That Make a Solid

In solid molecules, the intermolecular forces greatly exceed the kinetic energies. We’re talking about solids here. The intermolecular forces are the dominant force. The intermolecular forces hold the molecules tightly together in tightly-packed arrangements.

These solid molecules can be packed in many different arrangements. This gives solids definite shapes. These solid shapes fall into two categories: Crystalline solids and Amorphous solids. Crystalline solids are when the molecules are arranged in orderly, repeating patterns. An example would be in a gemstone, or any other type of mineral.

There’s some kind of sequence here. You can figure out what’s going to come next, because there’s an order to it. Then, there’s also amorphous solids, which are basically the opposite of crystalline solids. Here, the molecules lack a regular internal structure. There’s no sequence to it.

These molecules are more like supercooled fluids. The molecules have been permanently frozen. The example here would be glass or rubber. These are the two main categories of arrangements that shapes can fall into.