What are the three basic physical states in which matter can exist?

• A. Solid, plasma, and gas.
• B. Solid, liquid, plasma.
• C. Solid, liquid, and gas.
• D. Energy, matter, and mass.

Answer: (C)

Matter exists in three basic physical states based on how tightly its particles are arranged and how much energy they have: in a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place, giving solids a definite shape and volume; in a liquid, particles can flow and adapt to the shape of their container while keeping a definite volume; in a gas, particles are far apart and spread out to fill the space available, with neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume. Energy input can cause changes between these states, such as melting, freezing, vaporization, and condensation. Plasma is a high-energy state where atoms are ionized, but it’s typically considered separate from the three basic states under ordinary conditions.

So the trio that describes the three basic states is solid, liquid, and gas. The other options introduce plasma or mix in terms that aren’t states of matter, which is why they aren’t correct.