Is gelatin a solid or liquid?

"gelatin (or gelatine, latin: gelatus = stiff, frozen) translucent, colorless, brittle (when dry), flavorless solid substance, derived collagen obtained various animal by-products."

key question phrase, above, "when dry."

however, if thinking of "gelatin" "jello," need specify more information because no longer talking single substance, but, @ least, of substance "gelatine" mixed substance, "water." further, think making jello: dissolve solid gelatine in package in hot water and, while temperature above point solution liquid. when cools below point, solidifies. similarly, if put pure sugar in sauce pan , heat it, melt liquid , resolidify let cool again.

both toothpaste , apple sauce suspensions of solids in water. applying definitions of solids , liquids these depend upon ration of solids liquid in suspension. enough of liquid present, these flow liquids; smaller amounts of liquid present, retain shape solids do. if leave apple sauce (or toothpaste) out, open air several days, water evaporate , left solid residue. question is: still "apple sauce?" conversely, if take teaspoon of apple sauce , stir gallon of water, still "apple sauce."

if dissolve teaspoon of table sugar in cup of water, liquid solution. again, if allow water evaporate, so, become thicker , thicker ... syrupy ... sugar crystallize solid. during process, @ point "syrup" (water still present) become able hold shape , qualify solid?

ultimately, in determining answer question, conditions under observing substance in question must considered definition of substance (especially in case of mixtures, includes solutions, suspensions, colloids, etc.). after these have been specified ...

"solid ... state of matter characterized structural rigidity , resistance changes of shape or volume"
"liquid ... state of matter definite volume no fixed shape."

what toothpaste or apple sauce

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