Final answer:
Solids have a fixed shape and volume, liquids have a definite volume but no fixed shape and adapt to their container, and gases lack both a definite volume and shape, expanding to fill their containers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences in Volume of States of Matter
The states of matter differ in the space that they occupy, also known as volume. Solids have a definite shape and a definite volume, making them the most structured state of matter. Unlike solids, liquids have a definite volume but adapt to the shape of the container they are in; however, they form a flat or slightly curved surface when acted upon by gravity. Gases drastically differ as they have neither a definite volume nor shape and will expand to fill their containers. The transition from solid to liquid typically does not cause a significant change in volume, while the transition from liquid to gas results in a considerable increase in the volume that a substance occupies, often by a factor of 1,000 or more.
When observing these behaviors at a molecular level, the structured arrangement of molecules in a solid explains its rigid shape. In a liquid, the molecules have more freedom to move which allows the substance to flow. Molecules in a gas move rapidly and spread apart, allowing gases to fill the entire volume of their containers.
Summarizing, the primary differences in volume between the three states of matter are due to the varying degrees of molecular arrangement and movement, impacting the rigidness, flow, and expansion of the substance.