Question

density involves the amount of a material in a certain volume. when a material changes phases, it changes in density in a predictable way as the amount of material stays the same but the molecules get farther apart or closer together. water has solid and liquid states that do not follow these predictions of density in the phases of matter. what does that mean about the densities of the phases of water? the solid state is the most dense, followed by the liquid state, then the gas state. the solid state is more dense than the liquid state. the liquid state is more dense than the solid state. the gas state is the most dense, followed by the liquid state, then the solid state.

Explanation:

We know that for most substances, the solid state is denser than the liquid state, and the liquid state is denser than the gas state. But water is an exception. In water, the liquid state (liquid water) is denser than the solid state (ice). This is because the molecular arrangement in ice (solid water) has more empty spaces, making it less dense than liquid water. The gas state (water vapor) is the least dense among the three phases. So we analyze each option:

• Option 1: For most substances this might be true, but not for water. Ice (solid) is less dense than liquid water, so this is wrong.
• Option 2: Ice (solid water) is less dense than liquid water, so this is wrong.
• Option 3: Liquid water is denser than ice (solid water), which is correct for water's phase density behavior.
• Option 4: Gas state is the least dense among the three phases of water, so this is wrong.

Answer:

C. The liquid state is more dense than the solid state.