Question

Margot has a substance in a flask on her lab bench. To describe the state of the substance, she draws a diagram showing how its molecules are arranged. What is most likely true about the state of matter of the substance in the flask?

a. It is a liquid because its molecules are loosely packed but in constant contact with one another.
b. It is a gas because the molecules do not fill the entire container.
c. It is a solid because the molecules are closely spaced in a uniform shape.
d. It is a gas because there are spaces between the molecules as they move around.

Answer 1

The most likely state of matter for the substance in the flask is liquid because its molecules are loosely packed but in constant contact with one another. Liquids have a definite volume but not a definite shape, meaning they take the shape of their container.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely state of matter for the substance in the flask is liquid because its molecules are loosely packed but in constant contact with one another. Liquids have a definite volume but not a definite shape, meaning they take the shape of their container. In the diagram Margot drew, the arrangement of the molecules suggests that they are able to move around each other while remaining in contact, which is a characteristic of liquids.