Which of the following decreases when a given mass of gas is compressed to half its initial volume?
-
Average intermolecular distance
- Frequency of collisions
- Number of molecules present
- Atomic radius of each particle
The correct answer is: A
Explanation
Boyle's Law states that the volume of a given mass of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure at a constant temperature. As particles are constantly moving and colliding with each other and the walls of their container. The particles are far apart, so the forces between them are negligible.
When a gas is compressed, the gas particles move faster and hit the walls of the container more often. This increases the pressure of the gas and invariably brings the molecules of the gases closer together, and this leads to a decrease in the average distance between them.