Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Which of the following is not a characteristic or property of gas?

1. Volume

2. Mass

3. Pressure

4. Particles

The correct answer is: Particles

The correct answer is that particles are considered a fundamental aspect of gases, while the other options represent measurable properties or characteristics of a gas. Gases are made up of particles, typically molecules or atoms, that have significant spacing between them. This spacing contributes to several important properties of gases, such as the ability to expand and fill a container. Volume, mass, and pressure are all essential characteristics of gases that can be quantified: - Volume refers to the amount of space that a gas occupies. Gases do not have a fixed volume and will expand to fill their container completely. - Mass refers to the amount of matter present in the gas. Even though gases are less dense than solids or liquids, they still possess mass. - Pressure is a measure of the force exerted by gas molecules as they collide with the walls of their container. It reflects the concentration and energy of gas particles. While particles are intrinsic to the definition of gases, volume, mass, and pressure are properties that relate to how gases behave and can be observed in different conditions. Thus, describing particles as not being a characteristic of gas is justified in the context of the question, as they fundamentally compose the gas itself rather than serving as measurable properties.