Question

What do we mean by an ideal gas?

Short answer

An ideal gas is a theoretical concept that assumes gas molecules have negligible volume and do not interact with each other, meaning there are no attractive or repulsive forces. The behavior of an ideal gas is described by the Ideal Gas Law, which is represented as \( PV = nRT \), relating pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T), and amount of gas (n) in moles. Real gases behave closely to an ideal gas under high temperatures and low pressures.

Step-by-step solution

Definition and Characteristics of an Ideal Gas

An ideal gas is a theoretical concept that simplifies our understanding of the behavior of gases. It assumes that the molecules of a gas have negligible volume and do not interact with each other, meaning there are no attractive or repulsive forces acting on the particles. Due to these assumptions, an ideal gas follows some basic principles. Characteristics of an ideal gas: 1. The gas molecules have negligible volume. 2. There are no intermolecular forces (neither attractive nor repulsive) between the gas molecules. 3. The molecules move in random directions, and their collisions are perfectly elastic (meaning that no energy is lost in collisions).

Ideal Gas Equation

The behavior of an ideal gas is described by its equation, also known as the Ideal Gas Law, which relates the pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T), and amount of gas (n) in moles. The equation can be represented as: \( PV = nRT \) Where: - P represents the pressure of the gas (in atmospheres or Pa, depending on the units used) - V is the volume of the gas (in liters or m³) - n represents the amount of gas in moles - R is the ideal gas constant (8.314 J.mol⁻¹.K⁻¹ when using SI units) - T is the temperature of the gas in Kelvin (K) This equation helps us analyze and predict the behavior of an ideal gas under different conditions, including changes in pressure, temperature, or volume. Keep in mind that real gases do not perfectly follow the ideal gas law, but they behave closely to an ideal gas under high temperatures and low pressures.