Question

Why is a gas easier to compress than a liquid or a solid?

Answer 1

Because most of the volume of a gas is empty space.........

Explanation:

We can use the Ideal Gas Equation to approximate gaseous density:

`PV=nRT`, so `P/(RT)=n/V`

But `n="mass"/"molar mass"`

And so `P/(RT)xx"molar mass"="mass"/V=rho`.

And thus for a given gas `rho` is proportional to `"pressure"`, and inversely proportional to `"absolute temperature"`.

On the other hand, in condensed phases, there is little dead space between atoms and molecules. And thus the volumes (and densities) of the condensed phases are essentially constant.