Title: Kinetic Molecular Theory

Use the postulates of the kinetic theory to explain the following: i)Matter can exist in three states ii)The pressure exerted by a confined gas decreases as its temperature is lowered iii)A gas of low molecular mass will diffuse through air faster than a gas of high molecular masseven though both are at same temperature. The Kinetic Theory can be used to describe the three physical states of matter namely, solid, liquid and …

…the rates of diffusion are indirectly proportional to the square root of the masses of the particles. In other words, gases are made up of smaller particles which diffuse faster than gases which have bigger particles. This principle is known as Graham's Law. As the average kinetic energy of one gas particle is 1mv^2, which is the same for every gas at 2 the same temperature, less massive gas particles will travel faster than heavier particles.