Kinetic Molecular Theory Ideal versus Real Gases

4 Assumptions of KMT for an Ideal Gas Matter is composed of small molecules spaced far apart. Molecules are in constant, random motion. When molecules collide with other molecules or with the walls of the container, there is no loss of energy. Gas particles do not attract or repel one another.

Check out the motion of molecules in water as a solid, liquid, and as a gas… Three States of Matter (click here) All molecules are always in motion, but in this chapter we will focus on the motion of gas molecules.

Ideal Gases vs. Real Gases Real Gas (the opposite) particles occupy NO volume collisions between particles are perfectly elastic there are no attractive forces among particles

So why study a gas that isn’t real? There are an uncountable number of real gases, and describing each of them individually would be too difficult (duh!) Most real gases behave “ideally” under conditions of low pressure and high temperature. We limit our study of gases to these conditions (lucky us!)