Kinetic Molecular Theory

Question 1

What is the kinetic molecular theory?

Answer 1

A theory about how atoms and molecules (especially gases), behave.

Question 2

What is the first postulate of the theory?

Answer 2

All matter is made of atoms, the smallest unit of each element.

Question 3

What is the second postulate of the theory?

Answer 3

Atoms have an energy of motion (kinetic energy) that depends on the temperature; motions can be translational, vibrational, or rotational.

Question 4

What is the third postulate of the theory?

Answer 4

There is a temperature to which we can extrapolate, absolute zero, at which, theoretically, the motion of the atoms and the molecules would stop.

Question 5

What is the fourth postulate of the theory?

Answer 5

The pressure of a gas is due to the motion of the atoms or molecules of gas striking the object bearing that pressure; all collisions against the side of the container and other particles of the gas are elastic (with no friction).

Question 6

What is the fifth postulate of the theory?

Answer 6

There is a very large distance between the particles of a gas compared to the size of the particles; most of the volume of a gas is therefore empty space.