Conceptual understanding of gases

[sillyjoe]

In TBR gen chem gases it reads:

"From the microscopic perspective, the molecules are freely moving particles traveling through space, where the kinetic energy associated with each particle is greater than the potential energy of intermolecular forces."



Can someone please explain the bolded section conceptually?

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[DrknoSDN]

It means that gases don't stick together.

Think of it like planetary escape velocity. Space shuttle requires a certain KE to escape the PE of earths gravity.
Here the gas molecules are moving with a velocity that is large enough to make the Potential Energy attractive forces insignificant by comparison.
Thus they are freely moving particles traveling through space.

Note: They are making the comparison to Gravitational Potential energy: U=-gMm/r..... (not mgh)

 

[sillyjoe]

Thanks

 

[stester77s]

Yes, you could take it that in even non-ideal conditions, the energy associated with gas molecules sticking together is much less than their individual kinetic energy. In ideal gases this is taken to the extreme, where you assume no intermolecular forces of attraction.