What is a Gas?

A gas is one of the three main states of matter, just like solids and liquids. Imagine a balloon filled with air. The air inside is a gas! Gases are unique because they don’t have a fixed shape or volume. Instead, they spread out to fill whatever space they’re in. If you let the air out of the balloon, it will spread out and mix with the air around you, filling up the room.

Gases are made up of tiny particles, like atoms or molecules, that move around freely and quickly. This movement is why gases can easily expand to fill any container, whether it’s a balloon, a room, or even the atmosphere around our planet. Some common examples of gases include oxygen (which we breathe), carbon dioxide (which plants use to make food), and helium (which makes balloons float).

Gases are important in our daily lives. They help us breathe, cook food, power cars, and even protect the Earth by forming the atmosphere that surrounds it.