Solid

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For other uses, see Solid (disambiguation).

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Single crystalline form of solid insulin.

Solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being liquid, gas,

and plasma). The molecules in a solid are closely packed together and contain the least
amount of kinetic energy. A solid is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to
a force applied to the surface. Unlike a liquid, a solid object does not flow to take on the
shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire available volume like a gas.
The atoms in a solid are bound to each other, either in a regular geometric
lattice (crystalline solids, which include metals and ordinary ice), or irregularly
(an amorphous solid such as common window glass). Solids cannot be compressed
with little pressure whereas gases can be compressed with little pressure because the
molecules in a gas are loosely packed.
The branch of physics that deals with solids is called solid-state physics, and is the main
branch of condensed matter physics (which also includes liquids). Materials science is
primarily concerned with the physical and chemical properties of solids. Solid-state
chemistry is especially concerned with the synthesis of novel materials, as well as the
science of identification and chemical composition.

Contents

 1Microscopic description

 2Classes of solids
o 2.1Metals

o 2.2Minerals

o 2.3Ceramics

o 2.4Glass ceramics

o 2.5Organic solids

 2.5.1Wood

 2.5.2Polymers
 o 2.6Composite materials

o 2.7Semiconductors

o 2.8Nanomaterials

o 2.9Biomaterials

 3Physical properties
o 3.1Mechanical

o 3.2Thermal

o 3.3Electrical

 3.3.1Electro-mechanical
o 3.4Optical

 3.4.1Opto-electronic

 4References

 5External links