Part 1. A glass bottle, which is half-filled with water, has a balloon attached to its opening. The bottle is placed in a hot wa
ter bath for some time. Explain the change to the size of the balloon based on the kinetic molecular theory. Part 2. What would most likely happen to the balloon if the bottle was then placed into a jar of cold water with ice cubes? Explain your answer based on the kinetic molecular theory.
In both cases, assume the balloon is attached tightly enough so that air does not escape the system.
According to the kinetic molecular theory, the molecules that compose a gas are in constant random motion.
The temperature of a gas is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules.
When the balloon was placed in a hot water bath, the balloon becomes larger because the gas inside the balloon expands. This is because, more kinetic energy is supplied to the molecules of the gas hence they spread out.
When the balloon is placed in cold water, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules in the balloon decreases as temperature decreases hence the balloon shrinks