KINETIC THEORY

CH EMISTRY @ MBCC
PRE-UNIVERSITY SCIENCES
SCIENCE 1

KINETIC THEORY
Kinetic particle theory explains
the properties of the different
states of matter
Based on the idea that particles
of matter are always in
motion
Particles in solids, liquids and
gases have different amounts
of energy
Particles are arranged
differently and move in
different ways

DIFFERENT STATES OF MATTER

KINETIC THEORY OF GASES

Assumptions of the kinetic theory of
gases
1. Molecules are in constant, random motion.
The rapidly moving particles constantly
collide with the walls of the container which
results in pressure.

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ASSUMPTIONS OF KINETIC
THEORY
2. The collisions of gas particles with the walls of
the container holding them are perfectly elastic.
Elastic collisions are ones in which there is no net loss of
kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion

ASSUMPTIONS OF KINETIC
THEORY
3. The interactions among molecules are
negligible. They exert no forces on one another
except during collisions.
There are no forces of attraction or repulsion between gas
particles.
Think of gas particles as small billiard balls, when they collide
, they do not stick together, they bounce apart immediately.

ASSUMPTIONS OF KINETIC
THEORY
4. The average kinetic energy of the gas particles
depends only on the temperature of the
system.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
Higher the temperature, the faster the particles move

ASSUMPTIONS OF KINETIC
THEORY
5. The volume of the individual gas molecules is
negligible compared to the volume that the gas
occupies.
Gases consist of large numbers of particles that are far apart
relative to their size
Volume of gas particles occupy a volume usually about a
thousand times greater than liquid and solid particles

REAL GASES VS. IDEAL GASES

Real gas

Ideal gas

Collisions between molecules

are NOT perfectly elastic i.e.
there is energy lost with each
collision
Molecules are attracted to each
other via inter-molecular forces
at low temperatures

Collisions between molecules

are perfectly elastic

At high pressures the volume

of the molecules are not
negligible compared the
volume the gas occupies

The volume of the individual

gas molecules is negligible
compared to the volume that
the gas occupies at any
pressure
Obeys the Ideal gas Equation
under all conditions

Does not obey the Ideal Gas

Equation under all conditions

There are no attractions

between molecules at any
temperature

REAL GASES VS IDEAL GASES

Ideal gas - perfectly fits all the assumptions
of the kinetic theory; no such gas exists
Gases behave like ideal gases if the
pressure is not very high or the
temperature is not very low
Real gas - does not behave according to the
assumptions of the kinetic theory

REAL GASES
Real gases exhibit the following characteristics:
1. no definite shape or no definite volume
2. expands to fill the container
3. low density
4. compressible
5. exhibits diffusion and effusion
diffusion - spreading out of particles from high
concentration to low
effusion - process where particles pass
through a small opening

DEVIATION FROM IDEAL

BEHAVIOUR
Kinetic theory will hold true for real gases at very
low pressures and at very high temperatures
Nonpolar gases will hold closer to the kinetic
theory than polar gases.
Why is this????
Q. Which gases would deviate significantly from ideal
behaviour? Explain.
He, O2, H2, H20, N2, HCl, NH3?

GASES
An ideal gas is one which obeys both Boyles
Law and Charles Law
To describe a gas we need:
Pressure
Temperature
Volume
Number of moles

BOYLES LAW
Temperature of gas
is held constant
As volume of gas
decreases,
particles hit side of
container more
frequently;
pressure
increases
P so P =
PV = constant

For a fixed mass of gas at

constant temperature, the
volume is inversely
proportional to the pressure

BOYLES LAW

Fixed mass of
gas

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BOYLES LAW: OTHER

REPRESENTATIONS

CHARLES LAW

Pressure of gas is
held constant
As temperature of
gas increases,
particles spread out
more; volume
increases
VT so V= kT
= constant
=

For a fixed mass of gas at

constant pressure, the
volume is directly
proportional to the kelvin

CHARLES LAW
Fixed mass of gas
Balloon is cooled from
room temperature with
liquid nitrogen (
196C)
its volume decreases

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CONSTANT VOLUME LAW

The relationship between the temperature and

pressure of a gas at a constant volume
As temperature of gas increases (volume is fixed):
Particles speed up
Particles begins to hit side of vessel more frequently
Pressure increases

PT so P=kT
= constant
=

COMBINED GAS LAW

Q. A toy balloon has an internal pressure of 1.05 atm

and a volume of 5.0 L. If the temperature where the
balloon is released is 20 C, what will happen to the
volume when the balloon rises to an altitude where the
pressure is 0.65 atm and the temperature is 15 C?
Ans. 7.11 Litre

IDEAL GAS EQUATION

Combining the gas laws and Avogadros law (V n) gives
the ideal gas equation:

PV = nRT
where P = Pressure in Pa (1 Pa = J/m3)
V= volume = 1m3
n = number of moles
R = gas constant (8.314 J K-1 mol-1)
T = temperature (K)
*** 1 kPa = 1000 Pa
1 atm = 101,325 Pa
1000 dm3 = 1m3
Kelvin = temp in 0C + 273.15

VALUES OF IDEAL GAS

CONSTANT, R
R = 0.0821 Latm/molK (Pressure is in atm)
R = 8.3145 J/molK
R = 8.2057 m3atm/molK
R = 62.3637 LTorr/molK or LmmHg/molK
***Pay attention to units during calculations

MOLAR MASS OF A GAS

By substituting for n, we can determine the MM of
a gas

CHANGE OF STATE
Kinetic theory of matter can be used to explain how
solids, liquids and gases interchange
When an object is heated the motion of the particles
increases as the particles become more energetic
If it is cooled the motion of the particles decreases as
they lose energy

PHASE CHANGES HEATING CURVE

EXPLAINING THE PHASE

DIAGRAM
Stage A
As the temperature of a solid increases:
the units of the solid vibrate with increasingly energetic motion
as the solid melts, the units that made up the solid are freed to move
with respect to one another
Stage B
No change in temperature
All the heat energy goes towards transforming all the solid to liquid
Melting occurs
Phase changes are indicated by flat regions where heat energy is
used to overcome attractive forces between molecules
This melting process is calledfusion. The increased freedom of motion of
the molecules or ions comes at a price, measured by theheat of fusion,
orenthalpy of fusion (Hfus)

EXPLAINING THE PHASE

DIAGRAM
Stage C
As the temperature of a liquid increases, the molecules move with
increasing energy
Stage D
No change in temperature
All the heat energy goes towards transforming all the liquid to gas
Boiling occurs
The energy required to cause the transition from liquid to gas is
calledheat of vaporizationorenthalpy of vaporization, (Hvap)

Temperature does not increase during a phase changebecause

the added energy is used to overcome the attractive forces between
the molecules rather than increase their kinetic energy.

HOMEWORK
Use the handout provided to explain the
following concepts:
(i) The liquid state
(ii) Melting
(iii) Vaporisation (Evaporation and
Boiling)

SUMMARY