Which property of gas makes it occupy the shape of its container?

Study for the Chemistry Gas Laws Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The property of gas that allows it to occupy the shape of its container is due to the particles having high kinetic energy and being far apart. In a gas, the individual particles are not only widely spaced from one another but also move rapidly in all directions. This motion and spacing mean that gas can expand and fill any available volume, conforming to the shape of its container.

The high kinetic energy of the gas particles overwhelms any intermolecular forces, allowing the particles to move freely and occupy the entire space available. This results in gases having no definite shape or volume, as they will always adapt to the shape of their container. Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping the fundamental behaviors of gases in various conditions, like in closed or open environments.

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