Which physical property would best help to determine whether a sample of matter is a solid or a liquid?

• A. Color
• B. Density
• C. Odor
• D. Shape

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the difference between solids and liquids in terms of physical properties. Solids have a fixed shape and volume, while liquids have a fixed volume but take the shape of their container.
2. Evaluate each given property to see if it helps distinguish solids from liquids: Color and odor are not reliable because both solids and liquids can have various colors and odors.
3. Consider density: although density can differ between solids and liquids, it is not a definitive property to distinguish them because some solids can have densities similar to liquids.
4. Focus on shape: solids maintain a definite shape regardless of the container, whereas liquids do not have a fixed shape and conform to the shape of their container.
5. Conclude that the physical property 'shape' is the best indicator to determine whether a sample of matter is a solid or a liquid.