Which of the following correctly describes a physical property that distinguishes solids, liquids, and gases from each other?

• A. Solids and liquids both have definite shape, while gases have definite volume.
• B. Liquids and gases both have definite shape, while solids have neither definite shape nor volume.
• C. Solids have a definite shape and volume, liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape, and gases have neither definite shape nor volume.
• D. Solids have neither definite shape nor volume, liquids have definite shape, and gases have definite volume.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definitions of physical properties related to states of matter: shape and volume.
2. Step 2: Recall that solids have both a definite shape and a definite volume, meaning they maintain their shape and size regardless of the container.
3. Step 3: Recognize that liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape; they take the shape of their container but do not expand to fill it.
4. Step 4: Know that gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume; they expand to fill the entire volume of their container.
5. Step 5: Use these distinctions to evaluate each option and identify the statement that correctly matches these physical properties for solids, liquids, and gases.