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INDEX
Kinetic Theory Diffusion Grahams law of diffusion Maxwells distribution curve
Created by
Merly Mathew Jaganamol KB Shoneymol Shaju Sajana KK Neethu Nadarajan Sarika TS Rajasree R Anusha S Aparna Raveendran NeethuLakshmi
Kinetic theory of gases
The gas laws discussed so far were based on experimental observations. They were not base on any theory. In order to explain the general behaviour of gases, Maxwell, Boltzmann and others put forward a theoretical model of gas. The theory is known as Kinetic molecular theory of gases or microscopic model of gases.
Postulates of kinetic theory
All gases are made up of a large number of extremely small particle called molecules The molecules are separated from one another by large distance so that the actual volume of the molecules is negligible as compared to the total volume of the gas. The molecules are in a state of continuous rapid motion in all directions. During their motion, they keep on colliding with one another and also with the walls of the container. Molecular collision are perfectly elastic. I.e. there is no net lose or gain of energy in their collisions. However, there may be redistribution of energy during such collision There is attractive forces between the molecules. They move completely independent of each other. The pressure exerted by the gas is due to the bombardment of its molecules on the walls of the container. At any instant different molecules possess different velocities and hence different energies. However , the average kinetic energy is directly proportional to its absolute temperature
Grahams law of diffusion, effusion
Gases have the tendency to intermix and to form a homogeneous mixture. This is known as diffusion. Diffusion may be defined as the process by which a gas spreads and occupies the whole available volume, irrespective of other gases present in the container Effusion is the process by which a gas under pressure contained in a vessel escapes through a small opening (hole). Escaping of air through a punctured type is an example for effusion
Thomas Grahams studied the rates of diffusion of different gases and put forward a law known as Grahams law of diffusion. The law state that under identical conditions of temperature and pressure, the rate of diffusion/ effusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root its density.
It can be mathematically expressed as
Importance of Grahams law
1. The separation of isotopes of some elements is based on Grahams law of diffusion 2. It also provides a method for the determination of molecular masses of unknown gases
Maxwells Distribution speed
Already mentioned, a gas is a collision of tiny particles separated from one another by large empty space and moving rapidly at random in all the directions. In the course of their motion, they collide with one another also with the walls of the container. Due to frequent collisions the speed and direction of motion of molecules keep on changing . Thus all the molecules in a sample of gas do not have same speed. Although it is not possible to find out the speed of individual molecules , yet from the probability consideration it has become possible to work out the distribution of molecules between different speeds
The distribution of molecules is referred to as MaxwellBoltzmann distribution. It may be noted that distribution of speed remain constant at a particular temperature although individual speed of molecules may change. Maxwell plotted the fraction of molecules having different speed against the speed at particular temperature. The curve so obtained is called Maxwells distribution curve
The important features of Maxwell's distribution curve can be summed up as follows:
The fraction of molecules with very low or very high velocities (speeds) is very small. the fraction of molecules possessing higher and higher speeds go on increasing till they reach the peak and thereafter they start decreasing. the maximum fraction of molecules possess a velocity (or speed) corresponding to the peak in the curve. This velocity corresponding to the peak in the curve is referred to as most probable velocity: The most probable velocity may be defined as the velocity possessed by the maximum fraction of molecules at a particular temperature