Chapter VI: States of Matter and Intermolecular Forces

Excerpt from the poem "Liquid Longing"

...

But thus, these friendships that you seek
Can in your case, at best, be weak.
Your intermolecular forces, alas,
Are small. That’s why you are a gas.

But wait, there’s hope! The truth is that
It also depends what the temperature’s at.
The higher the thermal energy,    
The more will you fly all around and be free.

But when it’s really, very cold,
Then weaker forces actually hold.
So go to a frigid locale, and then,
You will be liquid nitrogen.”

And as rapidly as our exchange did commence,
He said, “Bye, I must go away now and condense.”
But he taught me the cause of my gaseous deal:
My friendship conditions were just not ideal.

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