* Solid Phase: Molecules in a solid are tightly packed and have a fixed, rigid structure. They vibrate in place but have very limited movement. This means they have low kinetic energy.
* Liquid Phase: Molecules in a liquid are more loosely packed and can move around freely. They have more translational and rotational kinetic energy than molecules in a solid.
* Gas Phase: Molecules in a gas have the highest kinetic energy. They move freely and randomly, colliding with each other and the container walls.
Therefore, the order of kinetic energy from lowest to highest is:
Solid < Liquid < Gas
Important Note: While molecules in liquids generally have more kinetic energy than solids, the exact amount can vary depending on the specific substance and the temperature.