[ELI5] Can one physically compress water, like with a cyclinder of water with a hydraulic press on the top, completely water tight, pressing down on it, and what would happen to the water?

Question

[ELI5] Can one physically compress water, like with a cyclinder of water with a hydraulic press on the top, completely water tight, pressing down on it, and what would happen to the water?

In: 1967

Answer 1

Not to a significant level. Liquids and solids are what are called the condensed states, which just means the molecules are really, really close together (unlike gases where the molecules are a long way apart). Liquids and solids aren’t compressible unless there’s a gas dispersed within them (e.g. you can squash a sponge but you’re pushing out air, you’re not squishing the solid molecules).