Final answer:
Liquids have a definite volume but not a fixed shape because the particles are attracted to each other but far enough apart they can slide past each other option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a liquid, the particles are still in close contact, so liquids have a definite volume (Liquids have definite volume). However, because the particles can move about each other rather freely, a liquid has no definite shape and takes the shape of its container (No definite shape (takes the shape of its container)).
This is because the particles in a liquid are attracted to each other but are far enough apart that they can slide past each other (Particles are attracted to each other but far enough apart they can slide past each other).
Liquids have a fixed volume but not a fixed shape due to the nature of their molecular arrangement and intermolecular forces. In a liquid, particles are in constant motion, allowing them to flow and take the shape of their container. However, the strong cohesive forces between the molecules prevent them from separating to fill the entire volume of the container, giving the liquid a definite volume.
Unlike solids, where particles are tightly packed in a fixed geometric arrangement, liquids lack a rigid structure. The cohesive forces are strong enough to maintain a defined volume, yet not rigid enough to hold a specific shape. This allows liquids to adapt to the shape of their container while retaining a constant volume. The combination of fluidity and volume retention is a result of the balance between intermolecular forces and molecular mobility in liquids.