Question

What are the characteristics of a liquid?
(a) A state of matter that has a definite volume but not a definite shape.
(b) A state of matter that conducts electricity well.
(c) A state of matter that does not have a definite volume or shape.
(d) A state of matter similar to gas that has free electrons.
(e) A state of matter that has both a fixed volume and shape.

Answer 1

Hint: In liquids the particles are more loosely packed than in a solid but tightly packed than a gas. Just like solids they are not very easy to compress. There are sufficiently strong forces of attraction existing between the particles in a liquid.

Complete step by step answer:
In order to solve this question first let us look into what exactly is matter and what are the different states of matter. Anything that occupies space and has a mass is called matter. Matter is made up of atoms which in turn comprise of electrons, neutrons and protons. These atoms combine together in order to form molecules which make up different types of matter. Potential energy called chemical energy holds these atoms and molecules together.

There are four natural states of matter namely solids, liquids, gases and plasma.
First let us look into solids. The particles in a solid are tightly packed and hence they do not move much. The particles can have a small vibration but they are fixed at their respective positions. Therefore the kinetic energy of particles in a solid is very low. They have a definite shape as well as volume; they do not conform to the shape of the container in which they are held.
Now let us look into gases. In gases the particles are present at a long distance from each other and hence can move freely. As a result the particles in a gas have high kinetic energy. Gases do not have a definite shape or a volume because the forces of attraction existing between the particles in a gas are very weak. If a gas is added to a container it will expand in order to fill the container. Because the particles are present at sufficiently long distances from each other in a gas, the gas can be easily compressed by applying high pressure.
Now let us look into liquids. The particles in a liquid are more loosely packed than in a solid but tightly packed than a gas. Due to this though a liquid has an indefinite shape due to large mobility of its particles but has a definite volume since the forces of attraction existing between the particles in a liquid are sufficiently strong. They are not very easy to compress.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Plasma is not commonly found on earth but it is a very common state of matter in the universe. It is composed of highly charged particles that possess very high kinetic energy. There is also a fifth state of matter which is actually a man-made state called Bose-Einstein condensate.