Julie and Diego are conducting an investigation to identify an unknown substance. They observe that the substance has a mass of 465 grams, is blue in color, holds its own shape, and has no odor. Based on those observations, they claim the substance is an example of solid matter. Which observations provide the most compelling evidence for their claim?

Question

A.the substance has a mass and holds its own shape

B.substance has a mass and color but no odor

C. the substance holds its own shape and has color

D. the substance is blue and does not have an odor

Answer 1

The most compelling evidence for Julie and Diego's claim that the substance is an example of solid matter is:

A. the substance has a mass and holds its own shape.

The reason is that solids have a definite shape and volume, which is indicated by the substance holding its own shape. The mass measurement further supports this classification, as all matter—including solids—has mass. While color can be a characteristic, it does not directly indicate the state of matter. Therefore, option A provides the strongest justification for their claim.