BEHAVIOR OF GASES

Gas is one of the three forms of matter. Every known substance is either a solid, liquid or a
gas. These forms differ in the way they fill space and change shape. A gas, such as air
has neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume and has weight.
Properties of Gases
1. Most gases exist as molecules (in case of inert gases as individual atoms).
2. The molecules of gases are randomly distributed and are far apart.
 Gases can be easily compressed; the molecules can be forced to be closed
together resulting to lesser space between them.
 The volume or space occupied by the molecules themselves is negligible as
compared to the total volume of the container so that the volume of the container
can be taken as the volume of the gas.
 Gases have lower densities than solids and liquids.
 The attractive forces between molecules (intermolecular) are negligible.
3. Most substances that are gaseous at normal conditions have low molecular mass.
 Measurable Properties of Gases
Common
Property Symbol
Units
torr, mm Hg,
Pressure P
cm Hg, atm
Volume V ml, i, cm, m
Temperature T k (Kelvin)
Amount of gas n mol
Density d g/l

Note:
1 atm = 1 atmosphere = 760 torr = 760 mm = 76 m Hg
Temperature is always in Kelvin. At absolute zero (0K) molecules stop moving
entirely, the gas is as cold as anything can get.
Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP) or Standard Conditions (SC):
T = 0 0C = 273 0K
P = 1 atm or its equivalents

Postulates of the Kinetic Molecular

Theory
The behavior of gases is explained by what
scientists call the Kinetic Molecular Theory.
According to this theory, all matter is made of
constantly moving atoms or molecules. Because
of their mass and velocity, they possess kinetic
energy, (K.E. = 1/2mv). The molecules collide with
one another and with the sides of the container.
There is no kinetic energy lost during collisions
inspite of the transfer of energy from one molecule
to another. At any given instant, the molecule do
not have the same kinetic energy. The average
kinetic energy of the molecule is directly
proportional to the absolute temperature. At any
given temperature, the average kinetic energy is
the same for the molecules of all gases.