Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases

1. All matter is composed of tiny, discrete particles (molecules or atoms).

2. Ideal gases consist of small particles (molecules or atoms) that are far apart in comparison to their own
size. The molecules of a gas are very small compared to the distances between them.

3. These particles are considered to be dimensionless points which occupy zero volume. The volume of
real gas molecules is assumed to be negligible for most purposes. This above statement is NOT TRUE.
Real gas molecules do occupy volume and it does have an impact on the behavior of the gas. This
impact WILL BE IGNORED when discussing ideal gases.

4. These particles are in rapid, random, constant straight line motion. This motion can be described by
well-defined and established laws of motion.

5. There are no attractive forces between gas molecules or between molecules and the sides of the
container with which they collide. In a real gas, there actually is attraction between the molecules of a
gas. Once again, this attraction WILL BE IGNORED when discussing ideal gases.

6. Molecules collide with one another and the sides of the container.

7. Energy can be transferred in collisions among molecules.

8. Energy is conserved in these collisions, although one molecule may gain energy at the expense of the
other.

9. Energy is distributed among the molecules in a particular fashion known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann
Distribution.

10. At any particular instant, the molecules in a given sample of gas do not all possess the same amount
of energy. The average kinetic energy of all the molecules is proportional to the absolute temperature.

Graham’s law

Diffusion is the gradual mixing of gases due to the motion of their component particles even in the absence
of mechanical agitation such as stirring. The result is a gas mixture with uniform composition. Diffusion is
also a property of the particles in liquids and liquid solutions and, to a lesser extent, of solids and solid
solutions.

Effusion, is the escape of gaseous molecules through a small (usually microscopic) hole, such as a hole in
a balloon, into an evacuated space.

Graham law states that

“The rate of effusion of a gaseous substance is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar
mass.”
Example:

During World War II, scientists working on the first atomic bomb were faced with the challenge of finding a
way to obtain large amounts of U235U235. Naturally occurring uranium is only 0.720% U235U235,
whereas most of the rest (99.275%) is U238U238, which is not fissionable (i.e., it will not break apart to
release nuclear energy) and also actually poisons the fission process. Because both isotopes of uranium
have the same reactivity, they cannot be separated chemically. Instead, a process of gaseous effusion was
developed using the volatile compound UF6UF6 (boiling point = 56°C).

1. Calculate the ratio of the rates of effusion of 235UF6 and 238UF6 for a single step in which UF6 is
allowed to pass through a porous barrier. (The atomic mass of 235U is 235.04, and the atomic
mass of 238U is 238.05.)
2. If n identical successive separation steps are used, the overall separation is given by the
separation in a single step (in this case, the ratio of effusion rates) raised to the nth power. How
many effusion steps are needed to obtain 99.0% pure 235UF6?