Which phenomenon illustrates that particles can exhibit wave-like behavior?

Prepare for the DIVE Integrated Chemistry and Physics Quarterly Exam 3. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations to guide your learning. Excel in your exam!

The phenomenon that illustrates that particles can exhibit wave-like behavior is interference patterns. This occurs when waves overlap and combine to form a new wave pattern, demonstrating properties characteristic of both waves and particles.

In the context of quantum mechanics, light and matter can behave as both particles and waves, a principle known as wave-particle duality. When particles such as electrons are directed through a double-slit apparatus, they can create an interference pattern on a screen even when particles are sent one at a time. This behavior is indicative of their wave-like properties, as each particle seems to interfere with itself as a wave.

While reflection of light is a wave phenomenon, it does not specifically illustrate the dual nature of particles. Condensation of gases concerns interactions between particles in a state change rather than their wave characteristics. Chemical bonding involves interactions at the atomic level and does not demonstrate wave-like behavior directly. Interference patterns, however, are a clear demonstration of how particles can exhibit wave-like characteristics when their behavior is observed in appropriate experimental setups.

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