Question

If two gases that do not react with each other are placed in the same container, they will completely with each other.

Short answer

When two non-reactive gases are placed in the same container, their molecules randomly move and collide with each other through a process called diffusion. As a result, the gases mix completely and form a homogeneous mixture with each gas occupying an equal proportion of the available space. The individual gas molecules continue to move randomly, maintaining this even distribution.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Gases and their Properties

Gases are made up of particles that are in constant motion, randomly moving in all directions. They are in the state of matter with the least amount of intermolecular forces between the particles. This means that when gases are placed in a container, they tend to spread out and occupy the entire available space.

Non-Reactive Gases

In this exercise, we are given two gases that do not react with each other. This means that when these two gases are mixed, there is no chemical reaction occurring between the gas molecules— they will retain their individual properties and characteristics.

Diffusion and Mixing of Gases

When two different gases are placed in the same container, their molecules start to randomly move and collide with each other. This motion and collision process, known as diffusion, causes the gases to mix and spread out evenly throughout the container. Since there is no chemical interaction between the two non-reactive gases, they will mix completely, resulting in a homogeneous mixture.

Understanding the Final State

Once the two non-reactive gases have mixed completely within the container, the final state will be a uniform mixture with each gas occupying an equal proportion of the available space. The individual gas molecules will continue to move randomly throughout the container, maintaining this even distribution.

Key concepts

Properties of Gases

Gases are fascinating because of their unique properties. Unlike solids and liquids, gas particles are always in motion, favoring random directions. This movement enables gases to fill the space available to them, no matter the shape or size of the container. A gas will expand to fill a container, demonstrating the property of diffusibility. Moreover, gases have weak intermolecular forces, meaning the molecules do not hold onto each other strongly like in solids or in some liquids, which allows them to move freely.
Another characteristic property of gases is that they are compressible. This means when pressure is applied, the volume of the gas will decrease. These properties explain why gases can mix quickly and thoroughly, such as when air fresheners rapidly spread their scent throughout a room.

Non-Reactive Gases

Non-reactive gases, sometimes referred to as "inert gases," do not undergo chemical reactions easily. They tend to retain their chemical identity even when mixed with other gas molecules. This is crucial in applications where chemical stability is necessary, such as in lighting or food preservation.
Inert gases like helium or neon are excellent examples of non-reactive gases. When placed in a container with another non-reactive gas, they behave independently, continuing to exhibit their own unique properties. This means they won't change or react with each other, which can be useful in environments that require maintaining a specific gas composition without unwanted chemical reactions.

Homogeneous Mixture

A homogeneous mixture is a mixture that is uniform throughout its entirety. This means that, after diffusion, each part of the container contains the same proportion of each gas that was initially mixed. In the context of our exercise, when two non-reactive gases are mixed, they form a homogeneous mixture.
Diffusion allows the gas molecules to spread evenly, irrespective of their original positions or concentrations. The end result is a mixture where, on a molecular level, every portion of the mixture is uniform. This is in contrast to heterogeneous mixtures, where different parts of the mixture may have different compositions.
Understanding the behavior of gases, especially when forming homogeneous mixtures, is vital in fields like chemistry and environmental science, where predicting the behavior of gases and their mixtures is fundamental.