what is a liquid

by Jennifer Boothroyd
Liquid?
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a Lerner Publications Company · Minneapolis
Liquid?
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by Jennifer Boothroyd
All things are made of matter.
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Matter is anything that takes
up space.
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4
There are three kinds of matter.
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A liquid is a kind of matter.

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A liquid does not have its
own shape.
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A liquid takes the shape of
its container.
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Water is a liquid. It flows.
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Paint is a liquid. It drips.
10
Juice is a liquid. You can
pour it.
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Heating a liquid can change it.
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Heating can change a liquid
into a gas.
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Water becomes steam.
14
Cooling a liquid can
change it.
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Cooling can change a liquid
into a solid.
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Water freezes into ice.
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Look around. What liquids do

you see?
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Which one has the
most liquid?
Look at the picture. Which
container has the most liquid in
it? Did you pick the vase? This
was a trick question. All three
containers have the same
amount of liquid. Liquids take
the shape of their containers.
The shape and size of a
container may make it look like
it has more or less liquid than
other containers do. Try this
experiment: pour the same
amount of liquid into different-
sized containers. Does it look
like they have different
amounts of liquid in them?
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Fun Facts
When some liquids are mixed
together, they make a new
liquid. Chocolate milk is one
example.
Some liquids do not make a
new liquid when they are
mixed together. Oil and water

will stay separate in a jar.
Liquids can be thick or thin.
Thick liquids like honey and
syrup flow slowly. Thin liquids
like water and juice flow
quickly.
21
Evaporation happens when a
liquid dries up. The liquid
changes to a gas and
becomes part of the air.
On some mornings, everything
outside is covered with drops
of water. These drops are
called dew. Dew forms when
the water in the air cools and
changes from a gas into a
liquid.
On very cold days, dew
freezes. It becomes a solid
called frost.
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Glossary
gas – something that is not a
liquid and takes the shape of
its container
liquid – something that flows
matter – anything that takes
up space
solid – something that has a

definite shape
steam – water that has
become a gas
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Index
change – 11, 12, 14, 15, 21
container – 7, 19
cooling – 14, 15, 21
evaporation – 21
gas – 12, 21
heating – 11, 12
solid – 15, 21