All matter is characterized by which of the following?

The correct answer emphasizes that all matter, regardless of its state or composition, is defined by both physical and chemical properties. Physical properties include characteristics such as color, density, and boiling point, which can be observed without changing the substance's chemical identity. Chemical properties, on the other hand, describe how a substance reacts with other materials, indicating its potential behavior in various chemical reactions.

This comprehensive understanding of matter highlights the variety of forms it can take—solids, liquids, and gases—all of which possess respective physical and chemical characteristics. Recognizing that all matter has these properties is fundamental to the study of science, particularly in fields like chemistry and biology, where the interactions and transformations of substances are key.

Other options are limited in scope and do not accurately reflect the nature of matter in its entirety. For instance, stating matter exists solely as a gas or exclusively in solid form ignores the existence of liquids and the critical concept of phase changes. Similarly, defining matter as consisting only of organic compounds disregards the vast range of inorganic materials that are also considered matter.