Maximum Compressibility of Air
Air is a gas and it has the property of compressibility. Compressibility is the extent to which a substance can be compressed or shortened by the application of force. Air is found to have the maximum compressibility when compared to other gases. The following points explain how air has maximum compressibility:
Molecular Structure of Air
The molecular structure of air is such that it has a lot of space between its molecules. The molecules of air are not arranged in a compact manner, but they are widely spaced. This means that when force is applied to air, it can easily be compressed as the molecules can be packed closely together.
Low Density
Air is a gas with low density. The density of air is around 1.2 kg/m3. This means that air has less mass per unit volume. Because of this low density, air can easily be compressed as there is less resistance to compression.
Zero Surface Tension
The surface tension of a liquid is the force that holds the surface molecules together. Air being a gas, has zero surface tension. This means that when force is applied to air, there is no resistance to compression and it can be easily compressed.
Conclusion
Air has maximum compressibility due to its molecular structure, low density, and zero surface tension. When force is applied to air, its molecules can be easily packed together, and there is less resistance to compression. Therefore, air can be compressed more than any other gas.