In which phases can water be found?

Water can exist in three distinct phases: liquid, solid, and gas.

The liquid phase is the most commonly experienced state, where water takes the shape of its container. The solid phase occurs when water freezes, forming ice. The gas phase is realized when water vaporizes, transitioning from liquid to gas as steam or vapor.

This classification is fundamental in understanding various processes in environmental science, including the water cycle, thermodynamic principles, and the behavior of water in different conditions. The presence of these three phases highlights how water can change states depending on temperature and pressure, which is crucial for wastewater management and treatment processes.

The other options do not accurately represent the full spectrum of water's phases, either by including incorrect terms or mislabeling recognized states of water. For instance, "Trace" does not refer to a phase of water, while "Gel," "Gas-vapor," and "Boil" are not recognized states in the same way that solid, liquid, and gas are.