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UNIT – 15
MOLECULAR THEORY OF GASES

(Section-B) CRQs (Short Answer questions)

15.1 Why the earth is not in thermal equilibrium with the sun?
Ans: The Earth is not in thermal equilibrium with the sun because there is a constant flow of energy from
the hotter sun to the colder Earth via radiation, and the Earth also has a much colder background
temperature due to its position in the cold universe. This large temperature difference means heat
is continually transferred, preventing a state of uniform and constant temperature that defines
thermal equilibrium, it is the fact that there is a vast empty space between sun and earth.

15.2 Describe the relationship between temperature and kinetic energy of molecules.
Ans: Temperature is a direct measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance,
with higher temperatures indicating faster-moving molecules and lower temperatures indicating
slower-moving molecules. This direct relationship is a fundamental principle of the kinetic theory of
gases, explaining phenomena like gas expansion when heated.
The average translational KE is expressed as
3
KE = K T
2

15.3 It is observed that when mercury thermometer is put in a flame then column of mercury
first descends and then rises. Explain.
Ans: When the thermometer's bulb is exposed to the flame, the heat is transferred first to the thin
glass that surrounds the mercury. The glass, being in direct contact with the heat, expands
rapidly. As the glass bulb expands, its internal volume increases. This increased volume
creates more space within the bulb, and the mercury, which hasn't yet fully heated, is drawn
into this larger space, causing it to temporarily descend. After the glass, the heat is transferred
to the mercury inside the bulb. Mercury has a much higher coefficient of thermal expansion
than glass, meaning it expands more significantly for the same temperature change. As the
mercury heats and expands, its volume increases at a greater rate than the glass. This causes
the visible mercury column to rise, indicating a higher temperature.

15.4 What is standard temperature and pressure?

Ans: Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP) refers to defined reference conditions of 0° Celsius
(273.15 K) and 1 atmosphere (101.325 kPa) of pressure. These conditions are used in science,
to allow for consistent and comparable measurements and calculations involving gases, such
as determining the molar volume of an ideal gas at STP (22.4 L/mol)

15.5 A thermometer is placed in direct sun light, what will be the reading of thermometer?
Ans: A thermometer placed in direct sunlight will register a reading higher than the actual air
temperature because it absorbs the sun's radiant heat, not just the air temperature. This extra
heat causes the thermometer's sensing element to warm up more than the surrounding air,
leading to an inflated temperature measurement. For an accurate reading of the air's
temperature, the thermometer must be shielded from direct sunlight.

15.6 The pressure in a gas cylinder containing hydrogen gas will leak more quickly than if it
is containing oxygen, why?
Ans: Hydrogen leaks faster than oxygen because its molecules are much smaller and lighter, allowing
them to move more quickly and escape through tiny imperfections in the cylinder's seals. This
difference in molecular size and mass is described by Graham's Law of Effusion, which states
that gases with lower molar masses diffuse or effuse at a faster rate. In summary, the
combination of a smaller molecule and a lower molecular weight makes hydrogen more prone

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to leaking through microscopic openings, causing the pressure inside the cylinder to decrease
at a faster pace compared to a cylinder containing oxygen.

15.7 When a sealed thermos bottle full of coffee is shaken, what are the changing occur?
Ans: When a sealed, insulated thermos full of coffee is shaken, a slight increase in temperature and
internal energy occurs because work is done on the coffee, converting some of that energy into
kinetic energy of the molecules against the coffee's viscous forces. However, this temperature
increase is usually very small and often immeasurable due to the thermos's excellent insulation,
which prevents significant heat transfer to or from the surroundings.

(Section-D) NUMERICALS:

15.1 The freezing point of mercury is -39oC, convert it into oF and comfort level temperature
of 20oC into kelvin.
Solution:
i) Conversion of -39oC into oF:
9
Using formula, 𝐹 = 5 𝐶 + 32
F = 1.8 (-39) + 32
F = -70.2 + 32
F = -38.2oF

ii) Conversion of 20oC into Kelvin:

Using formula,
K = oC + 273
K = 20 + 273
K = 293K

15.2 The boiling point of liquid nitrogen is -321oF, change it into Kelvin temperature.
Solution:
The Fahrenheit and Kelvin scale are related as
𝐾 − 273 𝐹 − 32
=
5 9
𝐾 − 273 −321 − 32
=
5 9
𝐾 − 273
= − 39.22
5
K – 273 = 5 x -39.22 = - 196.1
K = -196.1 + 273
K = 76.88K or 77K

15.3 Calculate the volume occupied by a gram mole of a gas at 0oC and a pressure of 1.0
atmosphere.
Solution:
The general gas equation is expressed as
PV = n R T
𝑛𝑅𝑇
𝑉 = 𝑃
Here, n = 1 mole, R = 0.08206 L atm mol-1 K-1, T= 273K, P=1 atm
1 𝑥 0.08206 𝑥 273
𝑉= 1
V= 22.4 L/mole

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15.4 An air storage tank whose volume is 112 liters contain 3kg of air at a pressure of 18
atmosphere, how much air would have to be forced into the tank to increase the pressure
to 21 atmospheres, assuming no change in temperature.
Solution:
According to Boyle’s law of mass (at constant temperature)
𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃 𝑉
𝑚
= 𝑚2 2
1 2
Here,
V1 = V2 = 112 liters, m1= 3kg, P1= 18 atm, P2= 21 atm, find m2:
18 𝑥 112 21 𝑥 112
3
= 𝑚
2
m2 = 3.5kg
now, the change in mass of air which is forced is Δm = m 2 – m1 = 3.5kg – 3kg , Δm = 0.5kg

15.5 a balloon contains 0.04m3 of air at a pressure of 120KPa, calculate the pressure required
to reduce its volume to 0.025m3 at constant temperature.
Solution:
According to Boyle’s law (at constant temperature)
P1V1 = P2V2
Here, P1=120KPa , V1=0.04m3 and V2=0.025m3
𝑃1 𝑉1 120 𝑥 103 𝑥 0.04
𝑃2 = 𝑉2
= 0.025
P2 = 192 x 103 Pa
P2 = 1.92 x 105 Pa

15.6 The molar mass of nitrogen gas N2 is 28gmol-1, for 100g nitrogen calculate
(a) the number of moles
Solution:
As, the number of moles is expressed as
𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔 =
𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒏=
𝟐𝟖
n = 3.57 moles

(b) the volume occupied at room temperature(20oC) and pressure of 1.01 x 105Pa.
Solution:
According to general gas equation,
PV = n R T
Here, P = 1.01 x 105Pa, n=3.57moles, R=8.313Jmol-1K-1, T=20oC=293K
𝑛𝑅𝑇 3.57 𝑥 8.313𝑥 293 8695.48
𝑉= 𝑃 = 1.01 𝑥 105
= 1.01 𝑥 105

V= 0.086 m3 or V=86dm3

15.7 A sample of gas contains 3.0 x 1024 atoms, calculate the volume of gas at a temperature
of 300K and pressure of 120K Pa.
Solution:
i) Calculate the number of moles:
𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 3.0 𝑥 1024
As, 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
= 6.02 𝑥 1023
= 0.498 𝑥 10
➔ 𝑛 = 4.9 𝑜𝑟 5 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠
ii) Calculate the volume of gas:
Using general gas equation, PV = n R T
𝑛𝑅𝑇 5 𝑥 8.313 𝑥 300
➔ 𝑉 = 𝑃 = 120 𝑥 103 V = 0.1039m3 or 0.104m3

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15.8 Calculate the root mean square speed of hydrogen molecules at 0oC and 1.0 atm
pressure, assume hydrogen to be an ideal gas, the density of hydrogen is 8.99x 10-2kg/m3.
Solution:
1
According to KMT of gas the pressure is expressed as, 𝑃 = 𝜌 𝑣̅ 2
3
3𝑃
Thus root mean square speed is, 𝑣𝑟𝑚𝑠 = √
𝜌
Here, P=1.0 atm= 1.013x105Pa
ρ = 8.99 x 10-2 kg/m3
3 𝑥 1.013 𝑥 105 3.039 𝑥 105
thus, 𝑣𝑟𝑚𝑠 = √ = √ = √3.380 𝑥 106
8.99 𝑥 10−2 8.99 𝑥 10−2
Vrms= 1838.59 m/s

15.9 Calculate the root mean square speed of hydrogen molecule at 500K (mass of proton is
1.67 x 10-27kg and K = 1.38 x 10-23 J/K)
Solution:
Mass of NA molecules of hydrogen = 2g = 0.002kg
0.002 kg
So mass of one hydrogen molecule = N
A
T = 500 K
R = 8.313 J mol-1 K-1
Now, the root mean square speed is expressed as
3RT 3 x 8.313 x 500 12469.5
Vrms = √m N = √ 0.002 = √ 0.002
= √6234750
A x NA
NA

Vrms = 2496.94 m/s

15.10 (a) Determine the average value of the kinetic energy of the particles of an ideal gas at
10oC and 40oC.
Solution:
i) At temperature T = 10oC = 283K
3 3
The average translational KE of gas is expressed as KE = 2 K T = 2 x 1.38 x10-23 x 283
KEav = 585.81 x 10-23 J
KEav = 5.85 x 10-21 J

ii) At temperature T = 40oC = 313K

3 3
The average translational KE of gas is expressed as KE = 2
KT = 2
x 1.38 x10-23 x 313
KEav = 647.91 x 10-23 J
KEav = 6.47 x 10-21 J

(b) What is kinetic energy per mole of an ideal gas at these temperatures? ie at 10oC
and 40oC.
i) At temperature T = 10oC = 283K, the KE of one molecule is KEav = 5.8581 x 10-21 J
Thus for one mole the kinetic energy will be
KE/mole = 5.85 x 10-21 x 6.02 x 1023 = 35.217 x 102 = 3521.7 joules

ii) At temperature T = 40oC = 313K, the KE of one molecule is KEav = 6.4791 x 10-21 J
Thus for one mole, the kinetic energy will be
KE/mole = 6.4791 x 10-21 x 6.02 x 1023 = 39.004 x 102 = 3900.4J

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