Given below are observations on molar specific heats at room temperature of some common gases.Generally, the specific heat of a monoatomic gas is 2.92 cal (mol K )‑1 , which is significantly lower from the specific heat of the above gases. Explain. It can be observed that chlorine has little larger value of specific heat, what could be the reason?
Given below are observations on molar specific heats at room temperature of some common gases.Generally, the specific heat of a monoatomic gas is 2.92 cal (mol K )‑1 , which is significantly lower from the specific heat of the above gases. Explain. It can be observed that chlorine has little larger value of specific heat, what could be the reason?

Answer:

The diatomic molecules in the preceding list can move in translation, vibration, and rotation. A monoatomic gas can only move translationally. Heat is required to increase translational, rotational, and vibrational energy of a mole of diatomic gas by 1°C. These gases have greater specific temperatures than monoatomic gases.
Chlorine has higher specific heat than the others because it has vibrational motion as well as rotational and translational motions.