Question

Reducing temperature and applying high pressure on a gas can lead to:

a) evaporation
b) liquefaction
c) sublimation
d) diffusion

Answer 1

The correct answer is b) liquefaction.

• Applying pressure means forcing the atoms of matter towards each other (reducing the free space between the particles). Thus, the application of high pressure reduces the inter-atomic distance. As a result, the pressure changes the gas into a liquid first, then to a solid.
• Reducing the temperature reduces the kinetic energy of the matter; thus, particles will not move in random motion and will convert into liquid. Hence, applying high pressure and reducing the temperature leads to the liquefaction of gases.