Which of the following expands to fill the container it is in, but can be compressed to a smaller volume when pressure is applied?

Question

anonymous · Answer

solid wood

liquid bromine

sugar crystals

oxygen gas

anonymous · Answer

Its going to be the gas. Due to the fact that gas molecules are spread farther apart than liquids or solids, the attractions between them are much less. This is what allows them to spread to fill a container as well as what allows for their compression.

anonymous · Answer

@Benjammin is correct although it should be noted how much pressure is applied.  And by how much I mean like crazy amounts of pressure, a few tons per square centimeter.  :-D

anonymous · Answer

Thank you both! :)

anonymous · Answer

@agentx5 is totally correct. Today I learned solid Oxygen is a metallic crystal when formed using pressure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_oxygen