KINETIC MOLECULAR

THEORY OF

GASES
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
"How do gas laws govern everyday
phenomena and practical applications in
areas such as weather forecasting,
scuba diving, cooking, and industrial
processes?"
 OBJECTIVES
Determine postulates which govern
gas behavior and properties
Relate kinetic energy with gas
behavior
Use Graham’s law to determine the
velocity of gas
SCAN THIS!
 WHAT IS A SOLID?
The molecules/atoms/particles are
closely packed. The molecules are
not able to move freely however
they can vibrate at their fixed
positions. Thus, solids have a
stable and definite shape.
 WHAT IS A LIQUID?
Made of more loosely packed
particles. It will take the shape of
its container. Particles can move
about within a liquid, but they are
packed densely enough that
volume is maintained.
 WHAT IS A GAS?
A gas is a state of matter
where the particles are
spread out. It has no
definite shape or volume.
SCAN THIS!
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY
POSTULATES
These are
experimental
observations about
the behavior of gases
 on #1
ti
s
e
Qu

What/How do gas
particles look like?
 er #1
sw
An

Gases are composed of

many particles that
behave like hard, spherical
objects in a state of
constant, random motion.
 n #2
tio
s
e
Qu

How do these
gases move?
 r #2
we
s
An

These particles move in

a straight line until they
collide with another
particle or the walls of
the container.
 n #3
tio
s
e

Are these
Qu

particles small
or big?
 r #3
we
s
An

These particles are much

smaller than the distance
between particles. Most
of the volume of a gas is
therefore empty space.
 n #4
tio
s
e
Qu

What happens when

particles bumped with
other particles?
 r #4
we
s
An

There is NO force of
attraction between gas
particles or between the
particles and the walls
of the container.
 n #5
tio
s
e
Qu

Will the particles

ever stop from
moving?
 r #5
we
s
An

Collisions between gas particles

or collisions with the walls of the
container are perfectly elastic.
None of the energy of a gas
particle is lost when it collides
with another particle or with
the walls of the container.
 ke note!
ta
d
...an

The average kinetic

energy of a collection of
gas particles depends on
the temperature of the
gas and nothing else.
 OBJECTIVES
Determine postulates which govern
gas behavior and properties
Relate kinetic energy with gas
behavior
Use Graham’s law to determine the
velocity of gas
KINETIC ENERGY
Form of energy possessed by
an moving object;

KE = 1/2 mv^2
where:
KE is Kinetic Energy (kg*m^2/s^2 or J)
m is mass (kg)
v is velocity (m/s)
KINETIC ENERGY
of...
(ON THE BOARD)
KINETIC ENERGY
of...
(ON THE BOARD)

How much faster is

the H2 molecule
compared to the O2
molecule?
KINETIC ENERGY
of...
(ON THE BOARD)

Calculate the average

velocity of an H2 molecule at
0° C if the average velocity
of an O2 molecule at this
temperature is 500 m/s.
 OBJECTIVES
Determine postulates which govern
gas behavior and properties
Relate kinetic energy with gas
behavior
Use Graham’s law to determine the
velocity of gas
GRAHAM’S LAW OF DIFFUSION
by Thomas Graham

Diffusion is the ability of

gases to mix with each other.

Effusion is the ability of gas to

travel through a small opening.
RELATE AND COMPARE THE VELOCITY OF
TWO GASES
(PRACTICE EXERCISE)
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
What is a gas?
What are the postulates
that governs gas behavior?
What is the formula to know
 OBJECTIVES
Determine postulates which govern
gas behavior and properties
Relate kinetic energy with gas
behavior
Use Graham’s law to determine the
velocity of gas