Which of the following best describes the appearance of water before it undergoes a phase change from liquid to gas?

• A. It is a colorless gas that fills the entire container.
• B. It is a cloudy suspension with visible particles.
• C. It is a transparent liquid with no fixed shape but a definite volume.
• D. It is a crystalline solid with a definite shape and volume.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the physical states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas, and their characteristic properties.
2. Recall that a liquid has a definite volume but no fixed shape, meaning it takes the shape of its container but does not expand to fill it completely.
3. Recognize that water in its liquid state is transparent and clear, without visible particles or cloudiness, distinguishing it from suspensions or solids.
4. Identify that before water undergoes a phase change from liquid to gas (evaporation or boiling), it exists as a transparent liquid with no fixed shape but a definite volume.
5. Conclude that the correct description of water before vaporization is: 'It is a transparent liquid with no fixed shape but a definite volume.'