Solid

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.

Substances
Def. the "basic structural component of the universe" that "usually has mass and volume" is called matter.

Def. a "form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties" is called a substance.

Def. a "[substance in the] fundamental state of matter that retains its size and shape without need of a container (as opposed to a liquid or gas)" is called a solid.

Def. a "substance that is flowing, and keeping no shape, such as water; a substance of which the molecules, while not tending to separate from one another like those of a gas, readily change their relative position, and which therefore retains no definite shape, except that determined by the containing receptacle; an inelastic fluid" is called a liquid.

Def. any matter "that can be contained [only] if it is fully surrounded by a solid (or in a bubble of liquid, or held together by gravitational pull)" is called a gas.

Def. a "state of matter consisting of [partially] fully ionized gas" is called a plasma.

Resources

 * Areiominerals
 * Astrominerals
 * Geominerals
 * Hermiominerals
 * Hestiominerals
 * Materials as chemicals
 * Meteorites as rocks
 * Mineraloids as chemicals
 * Minerals
 * Rocks
 * Rocks as chemicals
 * Selenominerals