Which state of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape?

• A. Gas
• B. Liquid
• C. Solid
• D. Plasma

Answer: (B)

Liquid has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container. The particles in a liquid are attracted enough to stay together as a bulk, giving a fixed, incompressible volume, but they can slide past one another, so they flow and shape itself to whatever space the liquid occupies. A solid, with a rigid arrangement of particles, keeps both its own shape and volume. A gas, with widely spaced particles that move freely, expands to fill the entire volume and shape available. Plasma behaves like a highly energized, ionized gas and generally doesn’t maintain a fixed shape or volume outside of containment. This combination of fixed volume with adaptable shape is what identifies the liquid state.