Science Common Sense

1724 - What is the form and properties of liquid crystals.

Imagine a special kind of liquid that can act like both a liquid and a solid at the same time. That's basically what liquid crystals are.

Form: Liquid crystals are made up of tiny, rod-shaped or sphere-shaped molecules that are close together but can still move around. They're like a liquid, but with a bit of order and structure, like a solid.

Properties:

1. Flow like a liquid: Liquid crystals can flow easily like a liquid and change shape.
2. Keep some order: Unlike a regular liquid, the molecules in liquid crystals are arranged in a special order, which gives them some of the properties of a solid.
3. Sensitive to temperature: Liquid crystals can change their properties when they're heated or cooled.
4. Sensitive to light: Some liquid crystals can change their properties when they're exposed to light or other external stimuli.
5. Can display colors: Liquid crystals can display different colors and patterns when they're heated, cooled, or exposed to light.

Liquid crystals are really cool and have lots of uses, like in:

• LCD screens (like your phone or TV)
• Thermometers
• Windows that can change from clear to dark
• Some medical devices