Polyatomic gases On the other hand, a polyatomic gas molecule (consisting of two or more atoms bound together) can store heat energy in additional degrees of freedom. Its kinetic energy contributes to the heat capacity in the same way as monatomic gases, but there are also contributions from the rotations of the molecule and vibration of the atoms relative to each other (including internal potential energy).
Polyatomic gases On the other hand, a polyatomic gas molecule, (consisting of two or more atoms bound together) can store heat energy in additional degrees of freedom. Its kinetic energy contributes to the heat capacity in the same way as monatomic gases but there are also contributions from the rotations of the molecule and vibration of the atoms relative to each other (including internal potential energy).