Question

What are the characteristics of liquids?

• A. Liquids do not have any fixed shape and size.
• B. They are nearly incompressible.
• C. They have weak intermolecular force of attraction.
• D. All of these.

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of these.

A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that confirms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure.

The volume is definite if the temperature and pressure are constant. When a solid is heated above its melting point, it becomes liquid, given that the pressure is higher than the triple point of the substance.

Intermolecular (or interatomic or inter-ionic) forces are still important, but the molecules have enough energy to move relative to each other and the structure is mobile. This means that the shape of a liquid is not definite but is determined by its container.