Which of the following will have the most freely moving particles within it?

A. Water at 100°C
B. Water at 0°C
C. Ice at 0°C
D. Steam at 100°C

I think the answer is a or d; however, I am favoring d.

A. water at 100C at boiling point ready to move to gas state

B. water at 0C the particles are slowing down.
C. ice is solid no moving particles
D. steam is a gas so particles are free to move anywhere
answer D

I agree with Sarah

To determine which of the given options will have the most freely moving particles, we need to consider the states of matter and their respective particle behavior.

A. Water at 100°C is in the liquid state. At this temperature, the water molecules have enough energy to overcome their intermolecular forces and move freely within the liquid. However, the presence of intermolecular forces still restricts their movement to some extent.

B. Water at 0°C is also in the liquid state. At this temperature, the water molecules have lower energy compared to 100°C, so their movement is slightly more restricted.

C. Ice at 0°C is in the solid state. In the solid state, the particles are tightly packed and have very limited movement. They vibrate in fixed positions but do not move freely throughout the material.

D. Steam at 100°C is in the gaseous state. In the gaseous state, the particles have gained enough energy to break free from the intermolecular forces and move freely and independently of one another.

From the given options, steam at 100°C (option D) will have the most freely moving particles.

To determine which of the given options will have the most freely moving particles, we need to understand the different states of matter and how they relate to particle movement.

The three states of matter that are relevant to this question are solid, liquid, and gas.

In solids, the particles are closely packed together and have limited movement. They vibrate in place, but generally do not change their position.

In liquids, the particles have more freedom of movement compared to solids. They can slide past each other, allowing the liquid to take on the shape of its container. However, the particles still have some attraction to each other.

In gases, the particles move more freely compared to both solids and liquids. They are not tightly packed, and they move randomly in all directions at high speeds. Gas particles have negligible attraction to each other.

Now, let's analyze each option:

A. Water at 100°C: Water at boiling point (100°C) is in liquid form but is transitioning into steam (gas). The particles in liquid water have some freedom of movement, but it is not as high as the particles in gas form.

B. Water at 0°C: Water at this temperature is in its liquid form. The particles in liquid water have more freedom of movement compared to solids, but still less than gas particles.

C. Ice at 0°C: Ice is in solid form, and its particles are tightly packed and have limited movement. Therefore, the particles in ice have the least freedom of movement.

D. Steam at 100°C: Steam is the gaseous form of water. The particles in steam are highly energetic, move freely, and have the most freedom of movement compared to all the options given.

Based on this analysis, we can conclude that option D, Steam at 100°C, will have the most freely moving particles within it. Therefore, your inclination towards option D is correct.