Question

Choose one of the following terms to match the definition or description given. a. alloy b. specific heat c. crystalline solid d. dipole-dipole attraction e. equilibrium vapor pressure f. intermolecular g. intramolecular h. ionic solids i. London dispersion forces j. molar heat of fusion k. molar heat of vaporization 1\. molecular solids m. normal boiling point n. semiconductor maximum pressure of vapor that builds up in a closed container

Short answer

The correct term that matches the description "maximum pressure of vapor that builds up in a closed container" is e. equilibrium vapor pressure.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the given terms

Go through each term in the list and understand their meaning, and see if they fit the given description or not. Here is the list of terms and their meanings: a. alloy - A mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal b. specific heat - The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius c. crystalline solid - A solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern d. dipole-dipole attraction - Attractive forces between polar molecules e. equilibrium vapor pressure - The pressure exerted by a vapor when it is in equilibrium with its liquid or solid phase f. intermolecular - Forces occurring between molecules g. intramolecular - Forces occurring within a molecule h. ionic solids - Solids formed by the attraction between oppositely charged ions i. London dispersion forces - Attractive forces that occur between temporary dipoles in nonpolar molecules j. molar heat of fusion - The energy required to melt one mole of a substance at its melting point k. molar heat of vaporization - The energy required to vaporize one mole of a substance at its boiling point l. molecular solids - Solids composed of molecules held together by intermolecular forces m. normal boiling point - The temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure n. semiconductor - A material that can conduct electricity under certain conditions

Identify the correct term

After analyzing the meanings of each term, the term that best matches the description "maximum pressure of vapor that builds up in a closed container" is: e. equilibrium vapor pressure - The pressure exerted by a vapor when it is in equilibrium with its liquid or solid phase Equilibrium vapor pressure represents the maximum pressure that a vapor can exert in a closed container, as it is the point at which the vapor and its corresponding liquid or solid are in equilibrium.

Key concepts

Equilibrium Vapor Pressure

Imagine putting a liquid into a closed container. As the liquid evaporates, vapor accumulates until there's no more room for additional vapor molecules. At this stage, the rate of evaporation equals the rate of condensation, and we've reached a state called equilibrium. The pressure that the vapor exerts in this equilibrium state is known as the equilibrium vapor pressure.

This pressure is crucial because it tells us how a substance behaves under different conditions. For example, water boils at a temperature where its equilibrium vapor pressure equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure. If you’re on a mountain top where the atmospheric pressure is lower, water will boil at a lower temperature because it reaches the necessary vapor pressure more quickly.

Understand that equilibrium vapor pressure is not static; it increases with temperature as more molecules have the energy to escape from the liquid or solid phase into the vapor phase. This concept is vital for students who are studying both the physical behavior of substances under different temperatures and the principles behind distillation and other separation techniques.

Intermolecular Forces

When looking at solid and liquid phases, intermolecular forces are the glue that holds molecules together. They are not as strong as the forces holding atoms together within molecules—those are called intramolecular forces—but they are critical in determining many properties of substances.

Common types of intermolecular forces include London dispersion forces, which are weakest and present in all molecular substances; dipole-dipole attractions, which occur between polar molecules; and hydrogen bonds, which are particularly strong dipole-dipole attractions involving hydrogen atoms attached to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine.

Students need to grasp that intermolecular forces affect things like boiling points, melting points, and vapor pressures. The stronger these forces are, the higher the temperature required to change a substance's phase. A clear understanding of intermolecular forces can also help in predicting which substances are likely to dissolve in others, and this is crucial knowledge for anyone involved in chemistry or materials science.

Crystalline Solid

Take a look at some salt or sugar under a microscope, and you'll see it's made up of a repeating, orderly pattern. That's because they are crystalline solids, and their atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a structured grid, much like the patterned layout of a garden.

Examples of Crystalline Structures

• Salt (NaCl) - cubic lattice
• Diamond - tetrahedral lattice
• Graphite - hexagonal layers

Why is this important? Well, the properties of crystalline solids, including their shape, how they break, and how they melt, are highly dependent on this arrangement. For instance, diamonds are incredibly hard because of their rigid lattice structure, while graphite is much softer due to the layers that can slide over one another.

For students interested in mineralogy, materials science, or solid-state chemistry, understanding crystalline solids is fundamental. After all, it's their unique internal structures that often determine their functionality, from electronic components to pharmaceuticals.