For example, at room temperature H2O (water) is a liquid, CH4 (methane) is a gas, NaCl (salt) is a solid, why?
What are the properties of a molecule that determines its state?
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It’s the wiggle. Cold molecules wiggle *slowly* , like a baby randomly kicking or waving arms. Its easy for the chemical bonding between atoms to hold the two molecules together.
When the molecules heat up the wiggle faster. This is like when the toddler is squirming so much mom can barely hold on and only has a grasp by one hand. This is a liquid as the two molecules are semi-attached but can move almost at free will.
Heat it up more and the wiggle gets extreme. So much that it has the energy to break the chemical bonds holding it together and as a gas molecules go flying off. So now the toddler saw a puppy and bolts away at speeds unknown to mankind and in every direction.
Different molecules have different properties that allow them to hold each other strongly or weakly. Hydrogen is like asking a book old to hold the attention a baby. They might have its attention for a moment but they will fly apart super easily. Some molecules like that makes up rock is the marriage of your great aunt Ruth who been married for 65 years and it isn’t conceivable the heat that would be needed to separate her from great uncle buck.
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