Open Question
Which temperature represents the highest average kinetic energy?
7. Gases
Kinetic Molecular Theory
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Which postulate of the kinetic molecular theory breaks down under conditions of high pressure?
A
The average kinetic energy of gas particles is proportional to the temperature in Kelvin.
B
Gas particles are in constant, random motion.
C
Gas particles do not attract or repel each other.
D
The size of a particle is negligibly small.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the kinetic molecular theory, which describes the behavior of ideal gases. It includes several postulates that explain the properties of gases.
Identify the postulate in question: 'The size of a particle is negligibly small.' This means that the volume of individual gas particles is so small compared to the volume of the container that it can be ignored.
Consider the conditions of high pressure. Under high pressure, gas particles are forced closer together, and the volume of the particles themselves becomes significant compared to the volume of the container.
Recognize that under these conditions, the assumption that the size of a particle is negligibly small breaks down because the particles occupy a larger fraction of the total volume.
Conclude that at high pressures, the volume occupied by the gas particles themselves cannot be ignored, thus violating the postulate that assumes their size is negligible.
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