Which of the following best determines the density of an object?

• A. The ratio of its mass to its volume
• B. The sum of its mass and volume
• C. The difference between its mass and volume
• D. The product of its mass and volume

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the definition of density in chemistry: Density is a physical property that relates the mass of an object to the amount of space it occupies.
2. Express this relationship mathematically as the ratio of mass to volume: \(\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}\).
3. Understand that the sum, difference, or product of mass and volume do not represent density because density specifically measures how much mass is contained in a given volume.
4. Recognize that the correct way to determine density is by dividing the mass of the object by its volume, not by adding, subtracting, or multiplying these quantities.
5. Therefore, the best description of density is the ratio of its mass to its volume.