Gas laws can be applied with the least error for which of the following substances_________________?
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Answer: D. superheated steam
Explanation
Superheated steam behaves most closely to an ideal gas, making gas laws applicable with minimal error. High temperatures and low pressures keep steam molecules far apart, reducing intermolecular forces. Deviations from ideal gas behavior become negligible in the superheated vapor region. Real gases deviate from ideal gas laws near their saturation or condensation curves. Superheating adds thermal energy above the saturation temperature at a given pressure. Engineers use ideal gas approximations to simplify complex thermodynamic cycle calculations.
Power plant steam turbines utilize superheated steam to prevent blade erosion from liquid droplets. Thermodynamic modeling of steam power cycles often starts with ideal gas assumptions. Industrial steam piping systems require superheat control to maintain efficient energy delivery. Option A dry steam may still contain trace moisture causing deviations from ideal laws. Option B wet steam contains liquid droplets, violating ideal gas assumptions significantly. Option C saturated steam exists on the phase boundary where intermolecular forces are strong.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Mechanical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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