Question

a gas is heated in a sealed container. the volume of the container does not change. what happens to the particles of the gas? a. the average distance between particles increases. b. the mass of each particle increases. c. the volume of each particle increases. d. the average kinetic energy of the particles increases.

Explanation:

• When a gas is heated in a sealed container with constant volume:
• Option A: Since the volume of the container is fixed, the average distance between particles (which is related to the volume occupied by the gas) cannot increase.
• Option B: Heating does not change the mass of individual gas particles. Mass is an intrinsic property of the particles and is not affected by temperature in this context.
• Option C: The volume of each particle (a fundamental property of the gas molecule/atom) does not change upon heating.
• Option D: According to the kinetic - molecular theory of gases, temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the gas particles. When the gas is heated (temperature increases), the average kinetic energy of the particles increases.

Answer:

D. The average kinetic energy of the particles increases.