If a sealed syringe is plunged into cold water, in which direction will the syringe piston slide?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: If a sealed syringe is plunged into cold water, in which direction will the syringe piston slide?

Option 1: in
Explanation: When the syringe is plunged into cold water, the air (gas) inside the sealed chamber cools down. A decrease in temperature causes a decrease in pressure of the trapped gas (Charles' Law, P ~ T for a fixed volume, or general gas behavior). With the external environment unchanged, the external pressure acting on the piston from the outside is greater than the reduced internal pressure, pushing the piston inward toward the needle end.

Option 2: out
Explanation: This would require the internal pressure to exceed the external pressure. Since cooling lowers internal pressure, not raises it, there is no driving force to push the piston outward. Therefore this option misstates the effect of cooling on internal pressure.

Option 3: No movement will occur.
Explanation: Movement occurs when there is a pressure difference across the piston. Cooling the gas inside creates a pressure drop relative to the outside, creating a net force that moves the piston. Hence saying no movement occurs is incorrect.

Option 4: The direction cannot be predicted.
Explanation: In this setup, the physical effect of cooling a confined gas is well understood: the internal pressure falls, while external pressure remains the same, resulting in a predictable inward movement. This makes the statement that the direction cannot be predicted inaccurate.

Chemistry (H) - Varnold - Preparatory Academy - 2nd Semester - 2024/2025 Gases Practice Test for the Final

If a sealed syringe is plunged into cold water, in which direction will the syringe piston slide?

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