If a mixture of different gases is heated, it rises to the top of its container. Which statement best explains this result?

1 answer

The statement that best explains why a mixture of different gases rises to the top of its container when heated is related to the concept of density. As the gas mixture is heated, the energy of the gas molecules increases, causing them to move faster and spread further apart. This increases the volume of the gas while reducing its density, making the heated gas lighter than the cooler air or gas that occupies the lower part of the container. As a result, the less dense, heated gas rises because of buoyancy, displaced by the denser, cooler gas below.