According to the kinetic molecular theory, which of the following are possible actions of molecules moving with kinetic energy?

• A. They can absorb, emit, and reflect light.
• B. They can ionize, condense, and evaporate.
• C. They can translate, rotate, and vibrate.
• D. They can dissolve, precipitate, and combust.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the kinetic molecular theory, which describes the behavior of molecules in terms of their motion and energy. According to this theory, molecules possess kinetic energy that manifests as different types of motion.
2. Step 2: Identify the types of molecular motion described by the kinetic molecular theory. These include translation (movement through space), rotation (spinning around an axis), and vibration (periodic motion of atoms within a molecule).
3. Step 3: Recognize that other actions listed, such as absorbing or emitting light, ionizing, condensing, evaporating, dissolving, precipitating, and combusting, are chemical or physical processes that involve energy changes but are not direct types of molecular motion described by the kinetic molecular theory.
4. Step 4: Conclude that the correct description of molecular actions related to kinetic energy are the motions: translation, rotation, and vibration, as these directly relate to how molecules move and store kinetic energy.
5. Step 5: Summarize that the kinetic molecular theory focuses on molecular motion types rather than chemical reactions or phase changes, which explains why 'translate, rotate, and vibrate' is the correct answer.