Which of the following statements correctly describes a postulate of the kinetic molecular theory?

• A. Gas particles lose energy during collisions with each other.
• B. Gas particles attract each other strongly, causing them to condense at room temperature.
• C. The volume of a gas is mostly occupied by the actual volume of the gas particles.
• D. Gas particles are in constant, random motion and collide elastically with the walls of the container.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the kinetic molecular theory explains the behavior of gases based on the motion and interactions of gas particles.
2. Understand that one key postulate is that gas particles are in constant, random motion, meaning they move in all directions with various speeds.
3. Recognize that collisions between gas particles and with the container walls are elastic, meaning no kinetic energy is lost during these collisions.
4. Note that gas particles are assumed to have negligible volume compared to the volume of the container, so the actual particle volume is very small.
5. Also, according to the theory, gas particles do not attract or repel each other significantly, which is why gases do not condense under normal conditions.