Gases are more compressible than solids:?

Question

Could someone please explain?

Answer 1

it's true that gases are more compressible than solids.and this is because gases are caracterized by the huge interstecial spaces between the gase 's molecules so it's easy to compress a gas in a bottle like sprays by incresing the pressure and so the molecules will come closer to each other under the effect or pressure.
but it's not the same about solids because their molecules are already very very close to each other.and so nothing will happen if ur increase their pressure.for example the chair won't go down if u sit on it.
and for extra info. liquids are intermediate between gases and solids.they are moderate spaces between it's molecules so it can somehow in small portions be compressed

Answer 2

Solid = Mass with definate shape and volume.
Liquid = Mass with definate volume and indefinate shape
Gas = Mass with neither shape nor volume definate.

As such, if a Solid is compressed you must alter both shape and volume that the mass takes up. Already being more dense than gasses, it has less room area with which to bring the individual particles together.

Gasses have to manipulate neither shape nor volume IN MOST INSTANCES. However this can be a trick question if you continue compression of equal volumes of different phases of a compound. For example, if you take oxygen and compress it, it eventually becomes liquid, while more liquid oxygen fits into an oxygen container, an oxygen container of frozen oxygen is about as hard to compress as a tank of water.

What should be stated is that it would be easier to compress a like mass quantity of a room temperature gas than a room temperature solid.

If you're just looking for a science class answer, the previous comments and first two phases of mine should be sufficient. If you're trying to understand chemistry of quantum mechanics, mine are a more offer an overview of the previous without the mathematics actually involved and theirs offer mathematical proofs.

Answer 3

Yes in overall volume size. Then gas is compressible it lets smaller and smaller (idea gas law PV = nRT where n R and T are constant P = pressure and V = volume to then pressure increases V decreases so that nRT are always the same) and the pressure increases. Then it reaches a set point it will liquidifed and with more pressure the denistry will increase as presure does. At some set point the liquid will turn into solid.

With solids there can only be a set amoult of pressure until it is not possible to pack the atoms any more closer.

Answer 4

Molecular structure.

Solids have a very closely packed or closely knit molecular structure, whereas in gases the molecules are distributed with large interstitial molecular spaces.

The larger intermolecular gaps allow the gases to compress, whereas the solids cannot easily compress due to lack of space between the molecular structures.

Answer 5

The molecules in gases are more spread out than those of solids. Therefore, they can be compressed more. Think about when you clap your hands together...now image a solid object in between your hands. You can compress gas more because it has more room in between and is not so "solid". It has more versatile means to be compressed. For example, a jet engine compresses air to create motion.

I hope this helps!

Answer 6

Molecules are loosely bound in a gas compared to solids.When you try to compress a gas substance,this distance reduces. But for solids, this "inter-molecular" distance is already at its minimum. So its tough to comoress them. For further info look at the links
http://courses.cm.utexas.edu/clabrake/ch301/ch12-notes.pdf
http://www.archaeolink.com/properties_of_matter_solids_liqu.htm
http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/chemistry/institutes/faraday/lab1.html

Answer 7

less density