Question

70. use the arrangement of particles in solids and gases to explain why solids are not as easy to compress as gases.

Explanation:

1. Particle Arrangement in Solids: In solids, particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) are closely packed in a regular, ordered structure. The intermolecular (or interparticle) spaces between them are very small.
2. Particle Arrangement in Gases: In gases, particles are far apart from each other, and the intermolecular spaces between gas particles are very large compared to those in solids.
3. Compression Concept: Compression involves reducing the volume occupied by a substance by pushing the particles closer together. For a substance to be compressed, there needs to be empty space (interparticle spaces) that can be reduced.
4. Comparison for Compression:

• In solids, since the interparticle spaces are already very small, there is little room to push the particles closer together. So, applying pressure to a solid does not significantly reduce its volume, meaning solids are not easily compressible.
• In gases, the large interparticle spaces allow the particles to be pushed much closer together when pressure is applied. This reduces the volume of the gas significantly, making gases highly compressible.

Answer:

In solids, particles are closely packed with very small interparticle spaces. In gases, particles are far apart with large interparticle spaces. Compression requires reducing interparticle spaces; solids have little space to reduce, so they are not as easy to compress as gases (which have large spaces to reduce).