Question

suppose you have three identical test tubes that contain equal masses of a solid, liquid, and gas form of the same substance. which form of the substance has the largest volume and why?
a liquid: it takes the shape of the container.
b gas: it expands to fill the container.
c solid: it has the hardest surface.
d none: all of them have the same volume.

Explanation:

To determine which form (solid, liquid, gas) of the same substance with equal mass has the largest volume, we analyze the properties of each state:

• Option a: Liquids take the shape of their container but have a definite volume (they don't expand to fill the container's volume like gases). So this is incorrect.
• Option b: Gases have particles with large spaces between them and weak intermolecular forces. This allows them to expand and fill the entire volume of their container. Given equal masses, the gas form will occupy the largest volume because of this expansion property.
• Option c: The hardness of a solid's surface is unrelated to its volume. Solids have a definite shape and volume, so they don't have a larger volume than gases here. This is incorrect.
• Option d: Solids, liquids, and gases of the same substance with equal mass do not have the same volume. Gases have much larger volumes due to their particle arrangement. This is incorrect.

Answer:

b. Gas: It expands to fill the container.