What happens to gas molecules when they are compressed?

When gas molecules are compressed, they move closer together. This behavior can be explained by the fundamental nature of gases and the ideal gas law, which states that pressure is inversely related to volume at constant temperature. As the volume of a gas decreases due to compression, the molecules have less space to occupy and thus come into closer proximity to one another.

This closeness leads to increased frequency of collisions among the gas molecules, which enhances pressure within the system. Additionally, while the molecules may experience changes in kinetic energy depending on the conditions of compression (such as temperature changes), the primary and most direct effect of compression is that the molecules are forced into a smaller volume, resulting in them being closer together.