International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry Practice Exam

What do the state symbols (s), (l), (g), and (aq) represent?

1. Solid, liquid, gas, and aqueous

2. Salt, liquid, gas, and air

3. Solid, liquid, gas, and acid

4. Salt, liquid, gas, and aqueous solution

The correct answer is: Solid, liquid, gas, and aqueous

The state symbols (s), (l), (g), and (aq) represent specific physical states of matter in chemical equations. The symbol (s) stands for solid, indicating a substance that has a definite shape and volume. The symbol (l) stands for liquid, referring to a state where a substance has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container. The symbol (g) denotes gas, which is a state with neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume, allowing it to expand and fill the available space. Lastly, the symbol (aq) stands for aqueous, which describes a substance that is dissolved in water, forming a solution. This answer provides clarity because it accurately defines the physical states represented by each symbol, facilitating better understanding of how substances interact in chemical reactions. Other choices do not correctly represent these fundamental concepts, as they include terms that do not classify the states of matter appropriately. For instance, referring to (aq) as "air" or "acid" misrepresents its meaning in the context of aqueous solutions.