The physical properties of ice are different from the physical properties of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide). But the physical properties of gaseous water vapor and the physical properties of gaseous carbon dioxide are the same. Why?

A.) The valence electrons are more tightly bound to the atom in the solid form.

B.) The molecules have less kinetic energy in the solid form, so they don't interact as much.


C.) The molecules are so far apart in the gaseous form that they never interact with each other.

D.) The molecules in the solid form combine to form a crystal.

PLEASE HELP! I cant find any information on the properties!

The answer is (C)

To understand why the physical properties of ice and dry ice differ while the physical properties of gaseous water vapor and gaseous carbon dioxide are the same, let's break down the options provided.

A.) The valence electrons are more tightly bound to the atom in the solid form.
This answer is partially true, as the valence electrons indeed play a role in the solid state of both ice and dry ice. However, this does not explain why the properties of gaseous water vapor and gaseous carbon dioxide are the same.

B.) The molecules have less kinetic energy in the solid form, so they don't interact as much.
This option is not completely accurate because in the solid state, molecules can still interact due to intermolecular forces. Additionally, this answer does not explain the similarities between the gaseous forms of water vapor and carbon dioxide.

C.) The molecules are so far apart in the gaseous form that they never interact with each other.
This option is not correct because molecules in the gaseous state can interact with each other through collisions and other intermolecular forces.

D.) The molecules in the solid form combine to form a crystal.
This is a key characteristic of the solid state. In the case of ice, water molecules arrange themselves in a hexagonal lattice structure, forming a crystal. However, it does not explain why the properties of gaseous water vapor and gaseous carbon dioxide are the same.

To understand the answer to the question, we need to consider the intermolecular forces present in these substances. Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction between molecules that determine their physical properties.

In the case of ice, water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonding, which results in a relatively high boiling point compared to other substances. On the other hand, dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) lacks the hydrogen bonding present in water, causing it to sublimate directly from a solid to a gas at a much lower temperature.

When both water and carbon dioxide molecules exist in the gaseous state (water vapor and carbon dioxide gas), the intermolecular forces between the molecules are weak dispersion forces or London forces. These forces are present between all types of molecules and depend on factors such as molecular size and shape. Since water and carbon dioxide molecules have similar sizes and shapes, the intermolecular forces between their gaseous forms are similar. Therefore, the physical properties of gaseous water vapor and gaseous carbon dioxide are the same.

In summary, the correct answer is B.) The physical properties of ice and dry ice differ due to the presence or absence of hydrogen bonding, while the physical properties of gaseous water vapor and gaseous carbon dioxide are the same because of the similar intermolecular forces present in their gaseous forms.