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What chemical compound can exist in all three states of matter depending on its temperature?

  1. Hydrogen

  2. Water

  3. Oxygen

  4. Carbon Dioxide

The correct answer is: Water

Water is the chemical compound that can exist in all three states of matter—solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam or water vapor)—depending on its temperature. This unique property is due to water's molecular structure and hydrogen bonding, which allows it to change states with varying temperature and pressure conditions. At 0 degrees Celsius, water freezes into ice, and at 100 degrees Celsius, it boils into steam at standard atmospheric pressure. The ability of water to transition between these states is fundamental to many processes in nature, including weather patterns and the water cycle, making it essential for life. In contrast, while hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide can also exist in different states, they do not transition between all three states of matter under standard atmospheric conditions in the same accessible temperature ranges as water does. This specific characteristic of water is what makes it uniquely versatile among the options provided.