Which of the following best describes how the most probable molecular speed in a…
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · AP · Chemistry · Properties of Substances and Mixtures · Properties of Substances and Mixtures
Problem
Which of the following best describes how the most probable molecular speed in a Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution changes when the absolute temperature of an ideal gas is increased?
(a) It decreases in proportion to 1/T because the temperature appears in the denominator of the speed expression.
(b) It increases linearly with temperature, doubling whenever the absolute temperature doubles.
(c) It increases because the average kinetic energy of the molecules is directly proportional to temperature.
(d) It cannot be predicted without knowing the gas pressure, since pressure is what determines particle speeds.