A chemist cools (decreases the temperature) a gas within a sealed, rigid container. Which statement describes the changes that occur in the gas? The volume of the container is constant.
a
The gas particles move slower and hit the sides of the container with less force, consequently, the pressure increases.
b
The gas particles move slower and hit the sides of the container with less force, consequently, the pressure decreases.
c
The gas particles move faster and hit the sides of the container with more force, consequently, the pressure increases.
d
The gas particles move faster and hit the sides of the container with more force, consequently, the pressure decreases.
b) The gas particles move slower and hit the sides of the container with less force, consequently, the pressure decreases.
To determine the changes that occur in the gas when it is cooled within a sealed, rigid container, we need to understand the relationship between temperature, particle motion, and pressure.
As the temperature of a gas decreases, the average kinetic energy of the gas particles also decreases. This means that the gas particles move slower on average.
When gas particles move slower, they hit the sides of the container with less force. Consequently, the pressure decreases. This is because pressure is caused by the collisions of gas particles with the walls of the container. When the particles move slower, they collide with less force and the pressure decreases.
Therefore, the correct statement describing the changes that occur in the gas is:
b) The gas particles move slower and hit the sides of the container with less force, consequently, the pressure decreases.
The correct answer is:
b) The gas particles move slower and hit the sides of the container with less force, consequently, the pressure decreases.