What occurs to a gas at absolute zero?

At absolute zero, which is defined as 0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius, the temperature is theoretically the lowest limit of the thermodynamic temperature scale. At this temperature, classical physics suggests that the gas particles occupy the lowest possible energy state, meaning they have minimum thermal motion.

In this state, the kinetic energy of the particles is minimized and approaches zero, allowing them to settle into the lowest energy configuration. As a result, the gas particles would be in a ground state and incapable of moving any slower – this is a critical point of thermodynamics.

While gases can undergo phase transitions, including solidification or condensation, this does not fully capture what occurs exclusively at absolute zero. Other phases, such as liquid or solid states, may evolve under certain conditions, but the defining characteristic at absolute zero is that the gas would occupy this minimum energy state. The concept of absolute zero is fundamental to understanding thermodynamics and the behavior of gases in relation to temperature and energy levels.