38.4k views
4 votes
When a sample of a gas is heated in a sealed, rigid container from 200 K to 400 K, the pressure exerted by the gas is:

a) decreased by a factor of 2.
b) increased by a factor of 2.
c) decreased by a factor of 200.
d) increased by a factor of 200.

User Yamaneko
by
8.7k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The pressure exerted by a gas in a sealed, rigid container that is heated from 200 K to 400 K increases by a factor of 2, following Gay-Lussac's law, which states that pressure is directly proportional to temperature in Kelvin.

option d is the correct

Step-by-step explanation:

When a sample of a gas is heated in a sealed, rigid container from 200 K to 400 K, the pressure exerted by the gas is increased by a factor of 2. This is because the gas follows Gay-Lussac's law, which states that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when the volume and the number of gas molecules remain constant. Doubling the temperature from 200 K to 400 K will therefore double the pressure in a sealed, rigid container. Here's a brief explanation of the concept:

  1. The initial state of the gas is at 200 K, and it is subjected to a certain pressure.
  2. When the temperature is increased to 400 K, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules increases.
  3. As the kinetic energy increases, the collisions against the container walls become more frequent and forceful.
  4. Since the container is rigid, the volume does not change, nor does the number of gas molecules.
  5. Thus, under these conditions, according to Gay-Lussac's law, the pressure is directly proportional to the temperature expressed in Kelvins.
  6. Hence, when the temperature doubles, the pressure exerted by the gas also doubles.

The pressure increase is not a factor of 200, as that would imply a much more dramatic change than what would occur due to the direct proportionality between temperature and pressure.

User Kenneth Salomon
by
8.2k points