This graph shows the number of molecules that have a kinetic energy for a collec

Question

This graph shows the number of molecules that have a kinetic energy for a collection of identical gas molecules. The three different curves represent different temperatures. 300 K 400 K 500 K Kinetic Energy In class we examined similar shaped curves, but speed, not the kinetic energy, was plotted horizntally. Why is the basic shape the same for the curve from class and the curves shown here? Why docs he ure reprcsenting 500 K how a peak at a higher kineic ener than the pealk of the 300 K Some chemical reactions depend on the temperature. That is, as the temperature increases, the reactants form more products. How could these curves be used to help explain this dependence?

Explanation / Answer

1)Kinetic energy of a particle is given by KE = 0.5*m*v^2

where v is the speed of the particle. hence KE is directly proportional to the square of the speed of a particle. Hence the nature of the curve remains the same.

2)The Kinetic energy of molecules is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas. Increasing the temperature increases the average kinetic energy of the molecules. hence we see a peak at a higher kinetic energy at 500K

3)Since, in chemical reaction, as the temperature increases the average kinetic energy of the molecules of the gas increases as a result of which the collision between them increases and the probability of them taking part in a reaction increases. Hence as the temp. increases the reactants from more products.

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