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Passage:
The NH3 gas produced was delivered through a rubber hose to fill a dry inverted 12-oz aluminum soft-drink can by downward displacement of air. The can was then sealed with parafilm and placed sealed side down in a shallow tray containing an inch of water. The seal was then removed. As the NH3 rapidly dissolved in the water, the atmospheric pressure crushed the can.
Question: If methane (CH4) were substituted for NH3 in the aluminum can, the crushing of the can would:
I understand why D is the answer because CH4 is nonpolar and water is polar so CH4 won't dissolve in the water. I don't understand aamc's explanation that "Since the CH4 will remain in the gas phase, the can will not be crushed by the formation of a vacuum inside the can."
Why will CH4 remain in the gas phase?
The NH3 gas produced was delivered through a rubber hose to fill a dry inverted 12-oz aluminum soft-drink can by downward displacement of air. The can was then sealed with parafilm and placed sealed side down in a shallow tray containing an inch of water. The seal was then removed. As the NH3 rapidly dissolved in the water, the atmospheric pressure crushed the can.
Question: If methane (CH4) were substituted for NH3 in the aluminum can, the crushing of the can would:
- A.occur because CH4, being polar, would dissolve in the water in the tray.
- B.occur because CH4, being nonpolar, would dissolve in the water in the tray.
- C.not occur because CH4, being polar, would not dissolve in the water in the tray.
- D.not occur because CH4, being nonpolar, would not dissolve in the water in the tray.
I understand why D is the answer because CH4 is nonpolar and water is polar so CH4 won't dissolve in the water. I don't understand aamc's explanation that "Since the CH4 will remain in the gas phase, the can will not be crushed by the formation of a vacuum inside the can."
Why will CH4 remain in the gas phase?
