Which of the following are the three states of matter?

The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. In a solid, particles are closely packed together in a fixed arrangement, giving it a definite shape and volume. In a liquid, particles are more loosely packed and can move past one another, allowing liquids to take the shape of their container while retaining a definite volume. In a gas, particles are far apart and move freely, resulting in no definite shape or volume, as gases expand to fill the space available to them.

Understanding these fundamental states helps in grasping concepts related to properties of matter, phase changes, and the behavior of substances under different conditions of temperature and pressure. Other choices mention combinations that either include substances not commonly recognized as states of matter, such as plasma or mixtures, or incorrectly categorize vapor, which is actually a state of gas but not a separate category of matter itself.