Properties of Liquids: Shape and Volume

Steps:

• Recall states of matter: solids maintain shape and volume due to strong particle bonds.
• Liquids have weaker bonds, allowing particles to flow and adapt to container shape while keeping overall volume constant.
• Gases have negligible bonds, so particles spread to fill any space, lacking fixed shape or volume.
• Match liquid traits to options: no fixed shape (flows), fixed volume (incompressible under normal conditions).

Why C is correct:

• Liquids conform to the container's shape (no fixed shape) but occupy a constant volume, as defined by the kinetic molecular theory where intermolecular forces prevent significant compression.

Why the others are wrong:

• A describes solids, which resist shape change due to rigid structure.
• B mismatches all states; no substance has fixed shape without fixed volume.
• D describes gases, which expand to fill available space without volume limits.

Final answer: C