The gaseous state of substances is an extremely interesting phenomenon, along with which substances acquire many useful properties. For example, gases are easily compressed. They adapt to the volume and shape of the tank they are filling. Why is this happening? Why do gases compress easily? How can this be explained scientifically? Find out in the article!
Why do gases compress easily?
Scuba diving is underwater diving when a diver dives underwater with a tank filled with compressed oxygen. The pressure in the most commonly used scuba gear is between 200 and 300 atmospheres.
Gases differ from other physical states of substances in that they tend to expand in such a way as to repeat the shape and fill the entire volume of the reservoir. However, in contrast to this, gases can also be compressed in such a way that a relatively small amount of them can be forced into a reservoir with a relatively small volume. So, if the air from the standardscuba tank is transferred to another container with an atmospheric pressure of 1 atmosphere, then the volume of this container should be about 2500 liters.
Gas density and compressibility
Compressibility is a measure of how much the density and volume of a substance can change when placed under pressure. If we press on a solid or liquid, there is essentially no change in volume. The atoms, ions, or molecules that make up a solid or liquid are very close to each other. There is no space between the individual particles, so they cannot condense.
Kinetic-Molecular Theory explains why gases are easily compressible (especially when compared to liquids or solids). Gases tend to compress easily because they are a large amount of empty space between gas particles. This is why gas is easily compressed. At room temperature and standard pressure, the average distance between gas molecules is about ten times the diameter of the molecules themselves. When the gas is compressed, as when filling a scuba tank, the particles move closer to each other.
Application of high compressibility properties of gases
Compressed gases are used in many situations. In hospitals, compressed oxygen is often given to patients with damaged lungs to help them breathe. If the patient is undergoing a major operation, then the anesthesia will most likely be xenon, that is, using compressed gas. Welding requires a very hot fire created by compressesacetylene and oxygen mixtures. Many barbecue grills are fueled by compressed propane.
Summarizing
Gases compress more easily than solids or liquids because there is a lot of empty space between their molecules. This property of gas is widely used in many areas of human life.
