Question

A 1.8 m3 rigid tank contains steam at 220°C. One third of the volume is in the ________.

1) liquid state
2) gaseous state
3) solid state
4) cannot be determined

Answer 1

Since the temperature of the steam in the tank is 220°C, which is above the boiling point of water (100°C), regardless of the stated one third volume, all the steam would be in the gaseous state. Therefore, the correct statement is that one third of the volume is in the gaseous state.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas, and their characteristics at a given temperature. Given that the tank contains steam at 220°C, and since the boiling point of water is 100°C, the steam in the tank would be in the gaseous state because it is well above the boiling point of water. Therefore, one third of the volume of steam at this temperature would still be in the gaseous state.

States of matter can change from one to another by adding or removing heat, and the physical state of a substance at any given temperature can be determined if the melting and boiling points are known. Since the temperature inside the rigid tank is specified as 220°C, which is higher than the boiling point of water (100°C), the matter within the tank cannot be in the liquid or solid state. Consequently, the correct answer to the question is:

Solution: b. This statement describes the gas state.