Particles are very small pieces of matter that make up substances. Liquids have weaker forces between particles than solids, allowing liquids to be poured and take the shape of a container. Plasma is a neutral medium made of positive and negative particles that are not free but not firmly bound. Solids expand when heated and contract when cooled due to particle movement. Liquids generally expand more than solids with temperature changes and contract back, though water is unique in expanding as it cools to 4°C before contracting as it freezes at 0°C. Gases like liquids and solids also expand with heat and contract with cold.