What causes matter to exist in three different states

NOT 100% SURE

Thermal Energy..?

When I think of three states of matter I think of water as an example:

• Adding extreme heat to the liquid form of water can turn it into gas.

• Adding heat to ice can turn it into the liquid form of water.

• Freezing the liquid form of water can turn it into ice.

I would say temperature (thermal energy) has an effect of the different states of matter.

atomic mass = 39

number of neutrons = 20

number of protons= 19

electronic configuration = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1

the number of electron in first shell = 2

number of electrons in n=3 shell = 8