Under which of the following conditions does a sample of gas behave most ideally according to the ideal gas law?

• A. High temperature and low pressure
• B. High temperature and high pressure
• C. Low temperature and low pressure
• D. Low temperature and high pressure

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the ideal gas law is given by the equation \(PV = nRT\), where gases are assumed to have negligible volume and no intermolecular forces.
2. Understand that gases behave most ideally when the assumptions of the ideal gas law are best met, which typically occurs at high temperatures and low pressures.
3. At high temperatures, gas particles have more kinetic energy, which reduces the effect of intermolecular attractions and repulsions, making the gas behave more ideally.
4. At low pressures, gas particles are far apart, so the volume of the particles themselves and intermolecular forces become less significant, again favoring ideal behavior.
5. Therefore, the condition 'High temperature and low pressure' is where a gas sample behaves most ideally according to the ideal gas law.