According to the kinetic molecular theory, what assumption is made about the size of particles in an ideal gas?

• A. The particles have variable sizes depending on temperature.
• B. The particles are so small that their individual volumes are negligible compared to the volume of the container.
• C. The particles are large enough to affect the pressure of the gas.
• D. The particles occupy a significant portion of the total volume of the gas.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the kinetic molecular theory describes the behavior of ideal gases through several key assumptions about gas particles.
2. One important assumption concerns the size of the gas particles relative to the container volume.
3. According to the theory, gas particles are considered to be point particles, meaning their individual volumes are so small that they can be neglected when compared to the total volume of the container.
4. This assumption allows us to simplify calculations by treating the gas as if the particles themselves do not take up space, focusing instead on their motion and collisions.
5. Therefore, the assumption is that the particles are so small that their individual volumes are negligible compared to the volume of the container.