The first thing you do before performing anything in the laboratory is to read the procedure and prepare the materials needed. Next, if you already have the solution where you are supposed to take your 20 mL sample, then have it near you. Then, prepare a volumetric flask (750 mL) and a 20-mL pipette. Wash the pipette 3 times with the sample solution. If your diluent is water, wash the flask 3 times with water. Now, get 20 mL of sample from your parent solution, then add it to the flask (previously washed with water). Finally, add water until the mark in the flask and make sure that the water added is up to the mark based on the lower meniscus reading to be accurate in the amount inside the flask. <span />
The substance should be in liquid state.
First, it takes up space in the container, which leads to that it shouldn't be a solid, because solid doesn't change its shape easily.
Second, it has a fixed volume, it's difficult to compress the substance, therefore it shouldn't be gas too, as gas can be compressed easily.
Therefore we're left with liquid. And both of these given properties fits the property of liquid.
