---
title: "A rigid, closed container holds a \\(1.0 \\text{ mol}\\) sample of \\(\\text{Ne}(g)\\) at \\(298 \\text{ K}\\). The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve representing the molecular speeds of the sample at \\(298 \\text{ K}\\) is shown below. The gas is subsequently heated to \\(596 \\text{ K}\\). Which of the following predictions best describes the change in the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules and the appearance of the speed distribution curve at \\(596 \\text{ K}\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119168/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:32:38+00:00"
---

# A rigid, closed container holds a \(1.0 \text{ mol}\) sample of \(\text{Ne}(g)\) at \(298 \text{ K}\). The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve representing the molecular speeds of the sample at \(298 \text{ K}\) is shown below. The gas is subsequently heated to \(596 \text{ K}\). Which of the following predictions best describes the change in the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules and the appearance of the speed distribution curve at \(596 \text{ K}\)?

A rigid, closed container holds a \(1.0 \text{ mol}\) sample of \(\text{Ne}(g)\) at \(298 \text{ K}\). The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve representing the molecular speeds of the sample at \(298 \text{ K}\) is shown below. The gas is subsequently heated to \(596 \text{ K}\). Which of the following predictions best describes the change in the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules and the appearance of the speed distribution curve at \(596 \text{ K}\)?

![A 2D line graph titled Molecular Speed Distribution of Ne(g) with labeled axes and no gridlines. The horizontal x-axis is labeled Molecular Speed (m/s) with numerical tick marks at 0, 500, 1000, and 1500. The vertical y-axis is labeled Relative Number of Molecules with ticks for relative scale. A single continuous solid line curve representing the gas at 298 K begins at the origin (0,0), rises steeply to reach its maximum height at a speed of 500 m/s, and then decreases continuously with a long tail extending toward 1500 m/s along the horizontal axis. The area under the curve represents the total number of gas molecules in the sample. No second curve, legend, shading, or additional annotations appear on the plot.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787142757-buf2eZ.jpg)

- **A.** The average kinetic energy remains unchanged, and the distribution curve shifts to the right with a taller peak.
- **B.** The average kinetic energy doubles, and the distribution curve shifts to the right with a taller peak.
- **C.** The average kinetic energy quadruples, and the distribution curve shifts to the right with a lower peak height.
- **D.** The average kinetic energy doubles, and the distribution curve shifts to the right with a lower peak height.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119168/*