Question

For which of the following gases is the "heat content" the sum of the kinetic energies of the individual atoms?

A) Nitrogen
B) Oxygen
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Helium

Answer 1

The heat content referring to the sum of kinetic energies of individual atoms applies to monatomic gases, making helium the correct answer as it's composed of single atoms, unlike diatomic or polyatomic gases with additional energy components.

Step-by-step explanation:

The "heat content" of a gas that refers to the sum of the kinetic energies of the individual atoms can be attributed to monatomic gases since their internal energy is purely translational. Hence, for a gas like helium, which is monatomic (consists of single atoms), the internal energy equals the sum of the kinetic energies of the individual atoms. In contrast, diatomic gases like nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), and polyatomic gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) have additional degrees of freedom, including vibrational and rotational motions, which contribute to their internal energy.