What state of matter is often described as having a definite shape and volume?

Study for the ALEKS Placement Chemistry Exam. Review flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your chemistry exam!

The state of matter that is characterized by having a definite shape and volume is solid. Solids have closely packed particles that vibrate in place, which gives them a fixed structure. This arrangement of particles allows solids to maintain their shape and volume under normal conditions.

In contrast, liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, while gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume, expanding to fill the entire space available. Bose-Einstein condensates represent a state of matter that occurs at extremely low temperatures where particles behave collectively in a unique quantum state, but they do not fit the description of having a definite shape and volume in the same way that solids do. Therefore, the characteristics of solids align perfectly with the definitions provided in the question, making it the correct answer.

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