14. Explain what determines a substance's state at a given temperature.

## Step 1<br />The state of a substance at a given temperature is determined by the kinetic energy of its particles. Kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. In the context of particles, it refers to the energy of the particles' motion.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />When the kinetic energy of the particles is high, the particles move rapidly and are far apart from each other. This is characteristic of a gas state, where the particles are free to move around and are not held together by strong forces.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />When the kinetic energy of the particles is moderate, the particles are close together but still have enough energy to move around. This is characteristic of a liquid state, where the particles are close together but can still move around each other.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />When the kinetic energy of the particles is low, the particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place. This is characteristic of a solid state, where the particles are held together by strong forces and do not move around.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />The temperature of a substance is a measure of the average kinetic energy of its particles. Therefore, the state of a substance at a given temperature is determined by the temperature of the substance.