What happens to the viscosity of gases as temperature increases?

What happens to the viscosity of gases as temperature increases?

• A. It decreases
• B. It increases
• C. It remains unchanged
• D. It becomes negligible

Answer: (B)

As temperature increases, the viscosity of gases tends to increase. This occurs because as heat is added to a gas, the molecules gain kinetic energy and move more rapidly. The increased motion leads to more frequent and energetic collisions between gas molecules, which in turn makes the gas more resistant to flow. In other words, the increased speed of the gas molecules at higher temperatures causes them to exert a greater viscous drag against one another, resulting in a rise in viscosity. Therefore, the relationship between temperature and viscosity for gases shows that viscosity increases with an increase in temperature. Understanding this behavior is important in various chemical engineering applications, such as the design of reactors and the prediction of gas flow in pipelines.

As temperature increases, the viscosity of gases tends to increase. This occurs because as heat is added to a gas, the molecules gain kinetic energy and move more rapidly. The increased motion leads to more frequent and energetic collisions between gas molecules, which in turn makes the gas more resistant to flow.

In other words, the increased speed of the gas molecules at higher temperatures causes them to exert a greater viscous drag against one another, resulting in a rise in viscosity. Therefore, the relationship between temperature and viscosity for gases shows that viscosity increases with an increase in temperature. Understanding this behavior is important in various chemical engineering applications, such as the design of reactors and the prediction of gas flow in pipelines.