Question

A group of Chemistry students have 1.0 mole each of two mystery substances, Substance X and Substance Y, at 50° C. Explain why a conclusion about the kinetic energy of each substance is not possible. (Write in short answer form--- 3-5 sentences)

Answer 1

A conclusion about the kinetic energy of two substances cannot be made by knowing temperature and quantity alone, due to the influences of atomic and molecular masses, phases, and structure on kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

A conclusion about the kinetic energy of Substance X and Substance Y is not possible just by knowing that there is 1.0 mole of each substance at 50° C. This is because kinetic energy is also affected by the masses of the atoms and molecules, which vary between different substances. Additionally, the substances could be in different phases or have different molecular structures and intermolecular forces, which would affect their energies. Therefore, without knowing the identity or phase of the substances, we cannot determine the kinetic energy based only on temperature and quantity.

Answer 2

The temperature of a substance in chemistry, is taken as a measure or estimate of the average kinetic energy (
`K_(avg)`) of the atoms or molecules contained in the substance. The 6.02 × 10²³ particles (atoms or molecules) within 1.0 mole of each substance can each posses different amount of kinetic energy at any given time. Some particles move very fast while others move very slow such that the kinetic energy of all the particles are only representable by a distribution and a conclusion regarding the different aspects of the kinetic energy distribution of the particles of the substances is not easily possible

Step-by-step explanation:

For a gas, we have;

`KE_(avg) = (3)/(2) \cdot k \cdot T`

Where;

`KE_(avg)` = The average kinetic energy

k = 1.38 × 10⁻²³ J/K

T = The gas temperature in Kelvin