The compressibility of solids is less than that of gases and liquids. Reason : There is tight coupling between the neighbouring atoms in solids.
Assertion : The compressibility of solids is less than that of gases and liquids. Reason : There is tight coupling between the neighbouring atoms in solids.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is True.
Explanation:
The compressibility of a substance refers to the ability of that substance to decrease in volume under pressure. Solids, liquids, and gases each exhibit different degrees of compressibility due to the nature of their molecular structures and the forces between their particles.
- Compressibility of Solids:
- In solids, particles (atoms, ions, or molecules) are closely packed together in a fixed arrangement and are held by strong intermolecular or atomic forces, such as covalent, ionic, or metallic bonds.
- These strong forces prevent the particles from moving freely or being pushed closer together when pressure is applied. As a result, solids have a very low compressibility.
- Essentially, when pressure is applied, the distance between the particles in a solid doesn’t change much, hence solids are not easily compressed.
- Compressibility of Liquids:
- Liquids, unlike solids, have particles that are not as tightly packed. The intermolecular forces between the particles are weaker than in solids, allowing the particles to move past each other.
- While liquids are more compressible than solids, they are still relatively incompressible compared to gases because the particles are still close together.
- Compressibility of Gases:
- Gases have particles that are far apart compared to solids and liquids, and the intermolecular forces are very weak or negligible. This allows gas particles to be compressed much more easily when pressure is applied.
- Gases are highly compressible because the volume of the gas can change significantly with pressure, according to Boyle’s Law.
Thus, the assertion is correct that the compressibility of solids is less than that of gases and liquids, and the reason provided is also valid. The tight coupling of neighboring atoms in solids significantly reduces their ability to compress.
