As the absolute temperature of an ideal gas sample is raised
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · AP · Chemistry · Properties of Substances and Mixtures · Properties of Substances and Mixtures
Problem
As the absolute temperature of an ideal gas sample is raised, the Maxwell–Boltzmann speed distribution becomes broader. Which of the following statements most directly accounts for this broadening?
(a) Raising the temperature increases the molecular mass, causing a larger spread in speeds.
(b) Raising the temperature decreases the average collision frequency, allowing molecules to retain their speeds for longer intervals.
(c) Raising the temperature increases the range of kinetic energies accessible to the molecules, so a wider variety of speeds becomes statistically probable.
(d) Raising the temperature shifts every molecular speed upward by the same constant amount, spreading the curve uniformly.