UNIT 4: KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY

OUTLINE
I PROPERTIES OF GASES
II KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY

Gases are the most studied and easily understood form of

matter. Even though gases may are different chemical
properties, they behave quite similarly as far as physical
properties are considered.

PROPERTIES OF GASES
 3 states of matter
o Solid
o Liquid
o Gas
 A substance or material is a gas if it as the following
characteristics:
o A gas is highly compressible. When pressure is
exerted on the gas, its volume decreases
dramatically.
o A gas expands as the temperature is increased. This
is true when pressure remains the same. As it
expands, it fills any container.
o A gas flow easily. The low viscosity of gas allows it
to flow through pipes more freely.
o A gas has lower density.
- Density is the number of things.
o All gases are miscible. When gases are placed in a
container their particles mix evenly and completely.
- Miscible describes substances that can be
mixed in any proportion.

KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY OF GASES

 The characteristics of gases can be explained in terms
of their molecular motion. The ideas about molecular
motion were developed into the kinetic molecular
theory by Rudolf Clausius, James Maxwell, and Ludwig
Boltzmann.
 The kinetic molecular theory of gases is a model that
could help us understand the behavior of gases. Its
postulates are enumerated below.
o A gas consists of very small particles. The
particles are in constant, random, and straight
line motion. This kind of motion of gas
particles causes a gas to fill the entire volume
of a container.
o The particles of a gas are separated by
distances much larger than their size.
o The gas particles collide with each other and
with the walls of the container in a perfectly
elastic manner.
o The average kinetic energy of the gas
particles is proportional to the absolute
(kelvin) temperature.
 The kinetic molecular theory helps in explaining the
Characteristics of gases. The diffusion of perfume for
example. The particles move rapidly in all direction.