Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between mass, volume, and density?

• A. Density equals mass divided by volume (density = mass / volume)
• B. Density equals mass multiplied by volume (density = mass × volume)
• C. Density equals volume divided by mass (density = volume / mass)
• D. Density equals mass plus volume (density = mass + volume)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the definition of density in chemistry: Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume of a substance.
2. Express this relationship mathematically as density (\rho) equals mass (m) divided by volume (V), which is written as \(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\).
3. Understand that multiplying mass by volume or adding them does not represent density, as these operations do not relate the amount of matter to the space it occupies.
4. Recognize that dividing volume by mass would give the inverse of density, which is not the standard definition used in chemistry.
5. Therefore, the correct relationship is density equals mass divided by volume, or \(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\).