Question

1pt a physics student writes in his lab report that he found that the density of a common substance was lower in the solid state than in the liquid state. what can be made about this result?
a. the student is mistaken.
b. the result is typical for any substance.
c. one possibility is that the substance was water.
d. the liquid density is also less than the gaseous density.

Explanation:

Most substances have a higher density in their solid state than liquid state, as particles are more tightly packed. However, water is an exception: when water freezes into ice (solid state), its hydrogen bonds form a hexagonal lattice structure that creates more empty space, making ice less dense than liquid water. Option A is incorrect because the result can be valid for water. Option B is wrong since this is not typical for most substances. Option D is false because gaseous states always have much lower density than liquid states due to widely spaced particles.

Answer:

C. One possibility is that the substance was water.