If a volume of cryogenic helium is allowed to warm and vaporize entirely in its container, what kind of pressure could it generate?

When cryogenic helium warms and vaporizes, it undergoes a significant change in temperature and volume. Helium is a gas at room temperature, and when it is cryogenic, it is kept at extremely low temperatures, which means its volume is reduced significantly in its liquid state. As it vaporizes, the volume expands tremendously and can lead to a very high pressure build-up in a closed container.

The correct answer, 14,500 psi, reflects the extreme pressure that can be generated if the helium gas is allowed to expand in a confined space without any means for the pressure to escape. The physical properties of helium gas, including its low boiling point and the behaviors of gases with respect to pressure, indicate that the pressure can reach such a high level under these conditions.

Understanding the characteristics of gases under various temperatures and pressures is crucial in scenarios involving cryogenic substances. Helium, which has a high tendency to overcome intermolecular forces when warmed, supports the idea that massive pressure can arise during the phase change from liquid to gas.

In contrast, the other answer choices reflect lower pressures that would not accurately represent the contextual scenario with vaporized cryogenic helium. Such low pressures would typically apply under conditions of greater containment or escape routes, which are not