32.

T – Ideal gases and kinetic theory - solutions

Q1.
C
[1]

Q2.
D
[1]

Q3.
D
[1]

Q4.
(a) 1. fixed mass or fixed number of molecules / moles ✔
2. constant temperature ✔
Allow alternatives to fixed mass such as ‘sealed vessel’ or
‘closed system’.
Not amount of gas as this is ambiguous.
The temperature must not be specific.
2

(b) (i)

V = 0.067 × 8.31 × 350 / (4.4 × 10−4) ✔

= 0.00044 (m3) ✔ (4.39 × 10−4 m3)
1st mark comes from use of valid equation with substitutions.
In the alternative look out for 0.067 = 1 /15 = (0.0016 / 0.024)
And R = NA k
Correct answer gains full marks
If no other answer is seen then 1 sig fig is wrong.
2

(ii) (proportion of a mole of trapped air

= volume of cylinder / volume of mole)
= 0.0016 / 0.024 = 0.067 (mol) ✔ (0.0667)
or
(use of n = pV/RT)
= 1.0 × 105 × 0.0016 / (8.31 × 290) = 0.066 (mol) ✔ (0.0664)
or

Page 1 of 8
 = 4.4 × 105 × 0.00044 / (8.31 × 350) = 0.067 (mol) ✔ (0.0666)
Answers range between 0.066 − 0.067 mol depending on the
volume carried forward.
(answer alone gains mark)
Working must be shown for a CE
Ans = V2 × 151
1

(iii) (mass = molar mass × number of moles)

mass = 0.029 × 0.0667 ✔ (0.00193 kg)
(density = mass / volume)
density = 0.00193 / 0.0016 = 1.2(1) kg m–3 ✔
(no continuation errors within this question but allow simple
powers of 10 arithmetic errors which will lose one mark)
CE mass = 0.029 × (b)(ii)
CE density = (0.029 × (b)(ii)) / 0.0016
or (18.1 × (b)(ii)
2

(c) the (average / mean / mean-square) speed of molecules increases (with absolute
temperature) ✔
as the mean kinetic energy is proportional to the (absolute) temperature
Or
Reference to KEmean = 3/2 kT ✔ but mean or rms must feature in the answer
somewhere.
2
[9]

Q5.
(a) molecules have negligible volume
collisions are elastic
the gas cannot be liquified
there are no interactions between molecules (except during collisions)
the gas obeys the (ideal) gas law / obeys Boyles law etc.
at all temperatures/pressures
any two lines
a gas laws may be given as a formula
2

(b) (i) n (= PV / RT) = 1.60 × 106 × 0.200 / (8.31 × (273 + 22))

= 130 or 131 mol (130.5 mol)
2

(ii) mass = 130.5 × 0.043 = 5.6 (kg)

(5.61kg)
allow ecf from bi

density (= mass / volume) = 5.61 / 0.200 = 28 (28.1 kg m−3)

kg m−3
a numerical answer without working can gain the first two
marks
3

(iii) (V2 = P1 V1 T2 / P2 T1)

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 V2 = 1.6 × 106 × .200 × (273 – 50) / 3.6 × 104 × (273 + 22) or 6.7(2) (m3)
allow ecf from bii
[reminder must see bii]
look out for

mass remaining = 5.61 × 0.20 / 6.72 = 0.17 (kg) (0.167 kg)

or
n = (PV / RT = 3.6 × 104 × 0.200 / (8.31 × (273 − 50)) = 3.88(5) (mol)

mass remaining = 3.885 × 4.3 × 10−2 = 0.17 (kg)

2 sig figs
any 2 sf answer gets the mark
3
[10]

Q6.
C
[1]

Q7.
A
[1]

Q8.
B
[1]

Q9.
(a) (i) pV = nRT (1)

(ii) all particles identical or have same mass (1)

collisions of gas molecules are elastic (1)
inter molecular forces are negligible (except during collisions) (1)
volume of molecules is negligible (compared to volume of
container) (1)
time of collisions is negligible (1)
motion of molecules is random (1)
large number of molecules present
(therefore statistical analysis applies) (1)
monamatic gas (1)
Newtonian mechanics applies (1)
max 4

(b) Ek = or (1)

= (1)

= 6.1 × 10–21 J (1) (6.07 × 10–21 J)

3

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 (c) masses are different (1)
hence because Ek is the same,
mean square speeds must be different (1)
2
[9]

Q10.
(a) the number of atoms in 12g of carbon-12
or the number of particles / atoms / molecules in one mole of substance ✓
not – NA quoted as a number
1

(b) (i) mean kinetic energy ( = 3 / 2 kT) = 3 / 2 × 1.38 × 10−23 × (273 + 22)
= 6.1 × 10−21 (J) ✓
6 × 10−21 J is not given mark
1

(ii) mass of krypton atom

= 0.084 / 6.02 × 10+23 ✓
( = 1.4 × 10−25 kg)
( = 2 × mean kinetic energy / mass

= 2 × 6.1 × 10−21 / 1.4 × 10−25)

= 8.7 - 8.8 × 104 ✓
m2 s−2 or J kg−1 ✓
1st mark is for the substitution which will normally be seen
within a larger calculation.
allow CE from (i)
working must be shown for a CE otherwise full marks can be
given for correct answer only
no calculation marks if mass has a physics error i.e. no
division by NA note for CE
answer = (i) × 1.43 × 1025
3

(c) (at the same temperature) the mean kinetic energy is the same
or
gases have equal
or
mass is inversely proportional to mean square speed / m ∝ 1 ✓
or mean square speed of krypton is less ✓
1st mark requires the word mean / average or equivalent in
an algebraic term
2nd mark ‘It’ will be taken to mean krypton. So, ‘It is less’ can
gain a mark
allow ‘heavier’ to mean more massive’
allow vague statements like speed is less for 2nd mark but
not in the first mark
2
[7]

Q11.

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 (a) (i) no net flow of (thermal) energy (between two or more bodies) (1)
bodies at same temperature (1)

(ii) (kinetic) energy is exchanged in molecular collisions (1)

until average kinetic energy of all molecules is the same (1)
max 3

(b) (i) (1)

= 1340m s–1 (1)

(ii) average k.e. of nitrogen molecules = average k.e. of helium molecules

(1)

= × (1340)2 = 5.97× 10–21 J (1)

alternative schemes for (ii):

average k.e. = kT (1)

= × 1.38 × 10–23 ×290

= 6.00 × 10–21 J (1)

or

average k.e. = (1)

= ×

= 6.00 × 10–21 J (1)

(iii) use of p = or equivalent [or, at same temperature, p ∝ no. of

molecules] (1)

pHe = × 120 = 80 kPa (1)

6
[9]

Q12.
(a) The volume / size of the gas molecules is negligible / point
mass or point molecule

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 Or molecules are point masses

Or small compared to the volume / size occupied by of the

gas ✔ owtte
No mark for all the same size or spherical.
Without the comparison the word used must suggest
extremely small.
Zero volume is wrong.
1

(b) (using N = PV/kT)

N = (1.0 × 105 × 0.70 × 10–3/(1.38 × 10–23 × 300) ✔ (first

mark is for converting the temperature to kelvin and using it
in a valid equation)

N = 1.7 × 1022 molecules ✔ (1.69 × 1022 molecules)

Alternatively (using n = PV/RT)

n = (1.0 × 105 × 0.70 × 10–3 / 8.31 × 300) = 0.028 mol ✔

(first mark is for converting the temperature to kelvin and
using it in a valid equation)

N (= n NA = 0.028 × 6.02 × 1023) = 1.7 × 1022 molecules ✔

(1.69 × 1022 molecules)
Correct answer scores both marks
Power of 10 issue = AE
Temperature conversion = PE
2

(c) (using TB = TA VB / VA)

TB = 300 × 0.50 / 0.70 = 214 (K) ✔
Change in temperature (= 214 – 300) = (–) 86 (K)✔
Or
TB (= PV/Nk) = 1.0 × 105 × 0.50 × 10–3/(1.38 × 10–23 × 1.69 ×
1022) = 214 (K) ✔
Change in temperature (= 214 – 300) = (–) 86 (K)✔ (± 1 K)
Or
TB = (PV/nR) = 1.0 × 105 × 0.50 × 10–3 /(0.028 × 8.31)
= 215 (K) ✔
Change in temperature (= 215 – 300) = (–) 85 (K)✔
Correct answer scores both marks
Let the last mark stand alone provided an attempt at
calculating TB is made.
Also allow working in Celsius for this last stand-alone mark.
2

(d) An appropriate calculation might be:

(If the temperature remained constant PC = PB VB / VC )

PC = 1.0 × 105 × 0.50 × 10–3 / 0.30 × 10–3 = 1.7 × 105 (Pa) ✔

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 (but the pressure at C is higher than this so) the temperature
at C is different / higher / not constant ✔

Or

(If the temperature remained constant PC VC would equal PB

VB)

PB VB = 1.0 × 105 × 0.50 × 10–3 = 50

PC VC = 2.05 × 105 × 0.30 × 10–3 = 61 ✔

(P V is not equal) the temperature at C is different / higher /

not constant ✔

Or a full calculation can be given using P V / T = constant.

PB VB / TB = 1.0 × 105 × 0.5 × 10–3 / 214 = (0.234 J K–1)

TC = PC VC / constant = 2.05 × 105 × 0.30 × 10–3 / 0.234

TC = 263 K ✔

the temperature at C is different / higher / not constant ✔

On its own higher temperature scores 0. Additionally there
must be a reference to a correct calculation to obtain the
last mark.
The question only requires the candidate to spot a change.
The two marks are for each side of a comparison.
Complete figures are not always required. For example in
the last alternative the common factor 105 could be missing.
2nd alternative may come from a ratio.
Depending on the sig figs used in the substitution of data the
temperature has a range 256 – 270 K
PV = NkT may be used as another alternative.
On a few occasions the full paper may be required to view.
2

(e) work done on gas from A to B (using W = P∆V or W = area

under the graph = 1.0 × (0.70 – 0.50) × 10–3) = 20 (J) ✔
giving a reference to the work done being the area under the
graph ✔

The third mark can be obtained in the following ways:

calculating the area indicated corresponds to the additional

work done on the gas from B to C

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(166 mm2 where 1 mm2 = 0.05 J) = 8.3 J √
(allow 8.0 – 10.0 J)

Or

The total work done (566 mm2 where 1 mm2 = 0.05 J) =

28.3(J) ✔

(allow 28.0 – 30.0 J)

This second mark can be obtained from an attempt at an
area calculation that involves the curved section of the
graph.
NB ‘additional work’ must be quoted to give mark for 8 – 10
J.
This 3rd mark is for a correct evaluation and not for details of
the process.
3
[10]

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