Answer the following question given this paragraph: Because the molecules of an ideal gas are assumed to have zero volume, the volume available to them for motion is always the same as the volume of the container. In contrast, the molecules of a real gas have small but measurable volumes. At low pressures, the gaseous molecules are relatively far apart, but as the pressure of the gas increases, the intermolecular distances become smaller and smaller (Figure 10.23 "The Effect of Nonzero Volume of Gas Particles on the Behavior of Gases at Low and High Pressures"). As a result, the volume occupied by the molecules becomes significant compared with the volume of the container. Consequently, the total volume occupied by the gas is greater than the volume predicted by the ideal gas law. Thus at very high pressures, the experimentally measured value of PV/nRT is greater than the value predicted by the ideal gas law. Figure 10.23 The Effect of Nonzero Volume of Gas Particles on the Behavior of Gases at Low and High Pressures. Q: What is the volume of the molecules of an ideal gas? A:
Choose from:
(a). three
(b). two
(c). one
(d). zero
Answer:
(d).