A student fills two syringes: one with air and the other with an equal volume of water. After capping the syringes, the student applies the same amount of
pressure to the plungers and records observations about the change in volume.
Based on the particle model of matter, which of the following statements best
explains the student's observations that the volume of the gas decreases greatly
but the volume of the liquid does not change noticeably?*
Gases expand to fill their containers but liquids do not because particles of gases are
free to move but particles of liquids are fixed in position.
Gases take the shape of their containers but liquids do not because gas particles
have the ability to flow but liquid particles do not.
Gases can have larger changes in volume than liquids can because gas particles
expand and contract but liquid particles do not.
Gases are more readily compressed than liquids are because there is more space
between the particles in a gas than in a liquid.