Question
A scientist mixed four types of water in a beaker during an experiment. Which water sample would be most likely to sink to the bottom, based on its high density? Cooler and more salty water Cooler and less salty water Warmer and more salty water Warmer and less salty water
Answer
4.7
(284 Votes)
York
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
Cooler and more salty water
Explanation
## Step 1:First, we need to understand the concept of density. Density is a measure of how much "stuff" is packed into a particular volume. The more "stuff" you have, the higher the density.## Step 2:Water is most dense at 4 degrees Celsius. Above and below this temperature, the density of water decreases (it expands). ## Step 3:When salt is dissolved in water, it breaks into its component ions. These ions occupy space between the water molecules, increasing the total "stuffness" and hence increasing the density. ## Step 4:Based on the above information, we can infer that cooler water (which is closer to 4 degrees Celsius) and saltier water (which has more "stuff" due to the presence of salt ions) would be denser than other types of water.