Chapter 10: Problem 117
Consider a gas sample consisting of molecules with radius \(r\). (a) Determine the excluded volume defined by two molecules and (b) calculate the excluded volume per mole \((b)\) for the gas. Compare the excluded volume per mole with the volume actually occupied by a mole of the molecules.
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Gas Molecules
The behavior of gas molecules is described by various physical laws, including Boyle's and Charles's laws, as well as the ideal gas law. These relationships help us understand how gases will react to changes in pressure, volume, and temperature. Understanding these fundamentals is essential because it helps predict how gases will behave under different conditions.
Radius of Molecules
When dealing with a sphere, the radius is used in the formula for volume, which is critical in many calculations involving molecules. For example, in the case of two touching gas molecules, the distance between their centers is twice the radius, i.e., \(2r\). This helps in determining the 'excluded volume', an important aspect in understanding real gas interactions. Knowing the radius also aids in comparing theoretical models of gas molecules to actual behavior, gaining insights into their interactions.
Molecular Volume
This concept becomes vital when analyzing how molecules interact with each other. The excluded volume is a crucial facet here—it represents the volume a second molecule cannot occupy because of the space taken up by the first. The calculated volume for two touching molecules is a sphere with radius \(2r\), leading to the formula \( V_{excluded} = \frac{4}{3} \pi (2r)^3 \). This underscores how molecular volume isn't just about the space a molecule occupies, but extends to how it influences the space around it.
Mole Calculation
For gas calculations, the mole concept is integral for determining quantities like excluded volume per mole. By calculating the excluded volume of one pair of gas molecules and scaling it up by Avogadro's number, we obtain the excluded volume for a mole of molecules, often denoted by \(b\). This enables chemists to compare it with the actual volume a mole of gas occupies, highlighting the difference between ideal and real gases. Such comparisons are crucial in understanding and correcting behaviors of gases in different conditions.