Properties of liquids

In a liquid, the atoms or molecules are free to move randomly within the constraints of the container and the liquid’s surface.

As in a solid, the atoms or molecules of a liquid are held together by attractive forces. But these forces are not great enough to hold the atoms or molecules in a fixed pattern; instead, they move about at random. As a result, a liquid can flow and it cannot be stretched or distorted. Like a solid, however, it can be compressed slightly and shows the same sort of elasticity when subjected to compressive stress. Unlike a solid, but like a gas, a liquid exerts pressure, which at any point depends on the depth and the density of the liquid.

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