Question 25

Liquid water takes the shape of its container.

Liquid water is a fluid that conforms to the shape of the container it occupies, making option D the correct choice. This characteristic is fundamental to the behavior of liquids in general.

A) It is less dense than water vapor.

This statement is incorrect. Water vapor is less dense than liquid water, which is why ice, as a solid form of water, floats on liquid water. Therefore, liquid water cannot be less dense than water vapor.

B) Its particles are moving slower than those of solid water.

This statement is also incorrect. The particles in liquid water are more mobile compared to those in solid water (ice), where the particles are held in fixed positions. Thus, the particles in liquid water move faster than those in solid water.

C) It can be compressed to a significantly smaller volume.

This statement is misleading. While all substances can be compressed to some extent, liquids like water are relatively incompressible compared to gases. Therefore, liquid water cannot be compressed to a significantly smaller volume.

D) It takes the shape of its container.

This statement is true. Liquid water will conform to the shape of any container it is placed in, which is a defining characteristic of liquids. Thus, this option accurately describes the behavior of liquid water.

Conclusion

Option D is definitively correct as it captures the essential property of liquids, which is their ability to take the shape of their container. The other options fail to accurately represent the nature of liquid water, either by mischaracterizing its density, particle movement, or compressibility.