Final answer:
The safe withdrawal rate of gas from a cylinder is 1/3 of its total capacity per hour. For volume calculations involving a piston in a cylinder, when the diameter and distance moved are known, the volume change can be accurately determined along with its measurement uncertainty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The withdrawal rate of most gases from a cylinder should not exceed 1/3 of the total cylinder capacity per hour. Exceeding this rate can lead to various issues, such as excessive cooling or pressure drop, which can potentially be unsafe or cause the gas to not behave ideally.
When considering the volume change of gas inside a cylinder when a piston is moved, we can determine the decrease in volume. For instance, a piston with a diameter of 7.500 cm moved 3.250 cm linearly would decrease the volume in cubic centimeters. Given the uncertainties in measurements, the uncertainty in the decreased volume can be calculated. In this case, the correct answer for the volume decrease with uncertainty is 143.6 ± 0.003 cm³ (option b).