Molecular energy state

Imagine all matter in the universe is made up of tiny building blocks called molecules. These molecules are constantly moving around and bouncing off of each other. This movement is what we call energy.

Now, just like people can be in different states (e.g. happy, sad, angry), molecules can be in different energy states. These energy states are determined by the amount of energy the molecule has.

Think of it like a staircase. The bottom step is the molecule's lowest energy state and the top step is its highest energy state. The amount of energy needed for the molecule to move up a step is different for every type of molecule.

When a molecule gains energy (like when you jump up and down and gain energy from the movement), it moves up the staircase to a higher energy state. When it loses energy (like when you stop jumping and lose your energy), it moves down the staircase to a lower energy state.

The energy state of a molecule is important because it affects how the molecule interacts with other molecules around it. Different energy states can lead to different chemical reactions or even changes in the physical properties of the substance the molecules make up (like melting or boiling).

So, in short, molecular energy state is the amount of energy a molecule has and affects how it interacts with other molecules around it.