Definition of Matter

The matter is anything that has mass and. occupies space. It can exist in any of the following three states :

1. solid
2. liquid
3. gas

In the gaseous state, the atoms or molecules are separated from each other by comparatively large distances and are haphazardly arranged. In a liquid state, they are somewhat closer but are still arranged haphazardly. In the solid-state, atoms are the closest and take on an orderly three-dimensional geometric pattern called a crystal lattice. In fact, considered in the context of the material, the matter may be subdivided into various categories.

1: Crystalline Solids

These are the solids in which atoms or molecules are arranged in a very regular and orderly fashion in a three-dimensional pattern. atom or molecule is fixed at a point in space at a definite distance and in a definite direction from all others surrounding it. In fact, there is an internal spatial symmetry of atomic orientation within a crystalline solid. This spatial pattern of atoms is called space lattice or lattice array.