Which of the following best describes the physical properties of a liquid?

• A. It has a definite shape but takes the volume of its container.
• B. It has a definite shape and definite volume.
• C. It has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container.
• D. It has neither a definite shape nor a definite volume.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the three common states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas, each with distinct physical properties related to shape and volume.
2. Understand that solids have both a definite shape and definite volume, meaning they do not change shape or volume easily.
3. Recognize that gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume; they expand to fill the shape and volume of their container.
4. Focus on liquids: they have a definite volume, meaning their amount of space occupied does not change easily, but they take the shape of their container, meaning their shape is not fixed.
5. Therefore, the best description of a liquid's physical properties is that it has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container.