Which statement is correct about a sample of liquid water at room temperature?

• A. The molecules are arranged in a rigid, fixed lattice.
• B. The sample has a definite shape and definite volume.
• C. The molecules are closely packed but can move past one another.
• D. The molecules are far apart and move independently.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the physical state of liquid water at room temperature: it is neither a solid nor a gas, but a liquid.
2. Recall that in a solid, molecules are arranged in a rigid, fixed lattice, giving the solid a definite shape and volume.
3. In a gas, molecules are far apart and move independently, resulting in neither definite shape nor volume.
4. In a liquid, molecules are closely packed but not fixed; they can move past one another, allowing the liquid to flow and take the shape of its container while maintaining a definite volume.
5. Therefore, the correct statement about liquid water at room temperature is that the molecules are closely packed but can move past one another.