Question

In gases, the volume of particles is -------- as compared to inter-molecular distance between them, hence gases can be easily compressed.

Answer 1

Gases are highly compressible:-

• Gases have particles that freely move in every direction.
• Due to this continuous random movement of the particles gases do not possess a particular shape or size.
• When we compare the intermolecular forces between the three states of matter, solids have the strongest intermolecular forces whereas gases have the weakest.
• The gaseous particles move freely due to the large inter-particle spacing between them.
• When we compare the volume of the particles present in the gas with the inter-molecular distance between them, it is found that the inter-molecular distance is very large when compared to the volume.
• Hence we also consider the volume of the particles to be negligible as compared to the inter-molecular distance between them.
• As a result, gases compress and take up lesser volumes than they had before, whenever pressure is applied, thus making them highly compressible.

Therefore, In gases, the volume of particles is negligible as compared to the inter-molecular distance between them, hence gases can be easily compressed.