Gases can be differentiated from solids and liquids because gases have:
A. reduced chemical reactivity.
B. no color.
C. average densities on the order of 10-3 g/mL.
D. a spherical shape.
I think the answer is C or D.
It is c
so the answer is C?
Just as an example, O2 has a density of 32/22.4 = 1.42 g/L and N2 has
28/22.4 = 1.25 g/L. Convert that to g/mL and see if that agrees with c.
I think so.
To determine the correct answer, let's break down the characteristics of gases, solids, and liquids.
Solids:
- Have a fixed shape and volume.
- Particles are closely packed together and have strong intermolecular forces.
- Cannot be compressed easily.
- The particles vibrate in fixed positions.
Liquids:
- Have a fixed volume but take the shape of their container.
- Particles are closely packed but have weaker intermolecular forces compared to solids.
- Cannot be compressed significantly.
- The particles can move past each other, allowing the liquid to flow.
Gases:
- Have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.
- Particles are far apart and have weak intermolecular forces.
- Can be easily compressed.
- The particles are in constant random motion.
Now, let's analyze the answer choices:
A. Reduced chemical reactivity: This is not a characteristic that distinguishes gases from solids and liquids. The chemical reactivity can vary for all states of matter.
B. No color: This is also not a characteristic specific to gases. All states of matter can have color.
C. Average density: This characteristic is useful in differentiating gases from solids and liquids. Gases often have low densities compared to solids and liquids. However, the specific value mentioned (10-3 g/mL) is not universally true for all gases, so this does not completely define gases.
D. Spherical shape: Gases do not have a defined shape, neither spherical nor any other shape. Hence, this is not a characteristic that distinguishes gases from solids and liquids.
Based on the analysis, the most accurate answer would be C: average densities on the order of 10-3 g/mL. However, it is important to note that this is a generalization, and not all gases have this specific density. The characteristic of having low densities is more relevant in distinguishing gases from solids and liquids.