Question

Which one of the following statements concerning the Boltzmann distribution is TRUE?

Select one

a)The Boltzmann equation expresses a statistical population distribution corresponding to maximum entropy

b)The Boltzmann equation applies to all systems, whether or not they are in thermal equilibrium

c)The Boltzmann distribution is not valid at very low temperatures.

d)Upper energy levels are always less populated than lower energy levels, regardless of degeneracy.

e)At room temperature, a Boltzmann distribution predicts few rotational levels are populated but many electronic levels.

Answer 1

c)The Boltzmann distribution is not valid at very low temperatures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Option cis correct because the Boltzman distribution can be applied when the temperature is high enough or the particle density is low enough to render quantum effects negligible.

The Boltzman distribution in statistics describe the distribution of particles over different energy states when there is thermal equilibrium (that is why option b is INCORRECT).