Which of the following represent the suitable conditions for the liquefaction of gases?
(a) low temperature, low pressure (b) high temperature, low pressure
(c) low temperature, high pressure (d) high temperature, high pressure
(c) low temperature, high pressure
Gases can be converted to a liquid by cooling or compressing the gases. The gases can be liquefied by two conditions:
1. Lowering the temperature: We can convert the gas molecules to a liquid by cooling the gas molecules. As we lower the temperature of the gas molecules, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules decreases and thus, the gas molecules are converted to liquid.
2. Applying high pressure: When we apply high pressure to the gas molecules, the gas molecules get compressed. On compression, the intermolecular distance between the gas molecules decreases. As the intermolecular distance between the gas molecules decreases, the gas molecules come very close to each other and thus condense into a liquid.
In gases, the intermolecular distance is very large. But when we apply high pressure and lower the temperature the gas converts to liquid.
Thus, the most favourable conditions to liquefy a gas are high pressure and low temperature.
Thus, the correct option is (C) low temperature and high pressure.