Two sealed containers each hold 1.00 mol of neon gas at different temperatures
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · AP · Chemistry · Properties of Substances and Mixtures · Properties of Substances and Mixtures
Problem
Two sealed containers each hold 1.00 mol of neon gas at different temperatures. For container P the most probable molecular speed is 300 m/s, and the peak height of its speed distribution is greater than that of container Q. For container Q the most probable molecular speed is 500 m/s. Which container is at the higher temperature?
(a) Container P, because the taller peak in its Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution indicates a higher temperature.
(b) Both containers are at the same temperature, since each holds the same amount of the same gas.
(c) Container Q, because the larger most probable speed means the molecules have greater average kinetic energy and therefore a higher temperature.
(d) The temperature cannot be determined without knowing the pressure or volume of each container to use PV=nRT.