Tanks of compressed gas must be kept away from heat sources. If the temperature of the tank increases too much, it may explode and cause a great deal of damage. Which of the following best explains why a tank of compressed gas can explode if it is heated?

As the gas is heated, the molecules break apart into individual atoms and move apart.
As the gas is heated, the molecules move faster and spread out from each other.
As the temperature of the gas increases, the molecules release energy and move faster.
As the temperature of the gas increases, the molecules gain energy and move sl

Question

Tanks of compressed gas must be kept away from heat sources. If the temperature of the tank increases too much, it may explode and cause a great deal of damage. Which of the following best explains why a tank of compressed gas can explode if it is heated?

As the gas is heated, the molecules break apart into individual atoms and move apart. 
   As the gas is heated, the molecules move faster and spread out from each other. 
   As the temperature of the gas increases, the molecules release energy and move faster. 
   As the temperature of the gas increases, the molecules gain energy and move sl

anonymous · Answer

As the gas is heated, the molecules move faster and spread out from each other.

anonymous · Answer

beacuse on giving heat kinetic energy of molecules increses due to which it exerts more pressure in the wall of caontainer

anonymous · Answer

on the wall of container

anonymous · Answer

Oh ok thanks! Very good answer

anonymous · Answer

as u said its easy :P always remeber wenever u give heat kinetic energy always increases ok

anonymous · Answer

Ok got it!

anonymous · Answer

Heena, that is not quite complete.  I think the case of latent heat of phase transitions should be noted in this context.  For example, if you put heat into an ice-water mixture at 0 C, some of the ice will change to water -- but the temperature will not increase, which means the average kinetic energy of the molecules will not increase.

It is also the case that the addition of heat in systems that can undergo a chemical reaction can have all kinds of consequences, some of which raise and some of which lower the temperature.

In short, I think t would be good to note that your statement is restricted to the case of a single phase of a pure substance.

anonymous · Answer

So which one woud you say it is?

anonymous · Answer

well carl if u read the ques i think we have to ans it acc. to that i agree wid u no doubt wat u saying is not correct but acc to the situation here wat i said is enough to xplain. w.r.t  other option

anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry, I must have been unclear.  There is nothing wrong with Heena's answer and reasoning in this problem.  I only meant to say that the additional statement that "wenever u give heat kinetic energy always increases" is dangerously incomplete.  If you are in a situation where a phase transition or chemical reaction is possible, it would be wrong.

anonymous · Answer

i agree.. carl i knw u just want to give extra info :P