Which of the following statements is false? (a) Gases are far less dense than liquids. (b) Gases are far more compressible than liquids. (c) Because liquid water and liquid carbon tetrachloride do not mix, neither do their vapors. (d) The volume occupied by a gas is determined by the volume of its container.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Let's analyze each statement one by one to determine which one is false.
2. (a) Gases are far less dense than liquids. This statement is true. Gases have a much lower density than liquids because their particles are spread out and not as closely packed together.
3. (b) Gases are far more compressible than liquids. This statement is also true. Gases are more compressible because their particles are not as closely packed together, allowing them to be squeezed into a smaller volume.
4. (c) Because liquid water and liquid carbon tetrachloride do not mix, neither do their vapors. This statement is false. The fact that two liquids do not mix does not necessarily mean their vapors will not mix. In the gaseous state, the particles are much more spread out and can easily intermingle, regardless of whether or not they mix in the liquid state.
5. (d) The volume occupied by a gas is determined by the volume of its container. This statement is true. Gases will expand to fill the volume of their container, regardless of the size of the container.

Key Concepts

Density of Gases vs. Liquids

Density is a measure of mass per unit volume. Gases typically have much lower densities than liquids due to the greater distance between particles in a gas, which allows for more empty space. This fundamental difference in density is crucial for understanding the behavior of gases compared to liquids.

Compressibility of Gases

Compressibility refers to the ability of a substance to decrease in volume under pressure. Gases are highly compressible because their particles are far apart, allowing them to be pushed closer together. In contrast, liquids are much less compressible due to the closer arrangement of their particles, which limits their ability to be compressed.

Vapor Behavior and Miscibility

Miscibility describes the ability of two substances to mix in all proportions. The statement regarding liquid water and liquid carbon tetrachloride not mixing implies that their vapors also do not mix, which is not necessarily true. Vapor behavior can differ from liquid behavior, as gases can often mix regardless of the miscibility of their liquid forms.