The correct option is C Metal rod, water, air
Answer is C.
Sound travels fastest in solids and slowest in air. Water is in between. This is because the particles in solids are closer together than the particles in liquids or gases, and the particles in liquids are closer together than the particles in gases. The tighter particles are packed in a space, they collide more frequently. This allows sound, which is simply the combined collisions of particles, to travel fastest in solids. So, to reiterate, sound travels fastest in solids, then water, and slowest in air.
Hence, the speed of sound is maximum in the Metal rod, next in water and the least in air.