Which statement best describes how the polarity of gas molecules affects their behavior compared to an ideal gas?

• A. Polar gas molecules deviate more from ideal gas behavior due to stronger intermolecular forces.
• B. Nonpolar gas molecules deviate more from ideal gas behavior than polar molecules.
• C. Polarity has no effect; all gases behave ideally regardless of molecular polarity.
• D. Polar gas molecules always behave exactly like ideal gases at all conditions.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that ideal gas behavior assumes no intermolecular forces and that gas particles occupy no volume.
2. Understand that polarity in gas molecules introduces dipole-dipole interactions, which are a type of intermolecular force.
3. Recognize that stronger intermolecular forces cause deviations from ideal gas behavior because they affect how gas molecules attract or repel each other.
4. Compare polar and nonpolar gases: polar gases have stronger intermolecular forces, so they deviate more from ideal gas behavior, especially at high pressures and low temperatures.
5. Conclude that the statement 'Polar gas molecules deviate more from ideal gas behavior due to stronger intermolecular forces' best describes the effect of polarity on gas behavior.