Which statement best describes liquids?

• A. They take the shape of their container and have a definite volume
• B. They have a fixed shape and cannot flow
• C. They occupy no shape until forced
• D. They cannot fill a container

Answer: (A)

Liquids have the ability to flow and take the shape of their container, while keeping a definite volume. The particles in a liquid are able to slide past one another, so the liquid can spread to fill the bottom and sides of whatever container it’s in. Yet the amount of liquid doesn’t change, so its volume remains constant even as its shape changes. That combination—shape conformity to the container plus a fixed volume—is what makes this description the best fit. The other statements describe solids (fixed shape and no flow) or gases (no definite shape and not confined by a container).