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Van der Waals Law
The Van der Waals equation is an improvement over the Ideal Gas Law, which is PV=nRTPV = nRT. It accounts for the real behavior of gases by considering the effects of intermolecular forces and the finite volume of gas molecules. This equation was introduced by Johannes Diderik van der Waals in 1873.
Van der Waals Equation
The Van der Waals equation is given as:
(P+aVm2)(Vm−b)=RT\left( P + \frac{a}{V_m^2} \right)(V_m - b) = RT
Where:
PP: Pressure of the gas
VmV_m: Molar volume (V/nV/n)
TT: Temperature
RR: Universal gas constant
aa: Constant accounting for intermolecular attractions
bb: Constant accounting for the finite size of gas molecules
Explanation of Terms
1. aVm2\frac{a}{V_m^2}: Correction for Intermolecular Forces
o Real gases experience attractions between particles, reducing
the effective pressure exerted on the container walls.
o The term aa depends on the type of gas and corrects for these attractive forces. Higher aa means stronger intermolecular forces.
2. bb: Correction for Molecular Volume
o Gas molecules occupy a finite amount of space, which is not
negligible at high pressures.
o The constant bb represents the volume excluded by one mole
of gas molecules, effectively reducing the free space available for gas particles to move. Key Points
1. Deviation from Ideal Behavior:
o Ideal gases assume no interactions between particles and that
gas molecules have no volume.
o Real gases deviate from these assumptions, especially at high
pressures and low temperatures.
2. Significance of aa and bb:
o aa: Accounts for the strength of intermolecular forces. Gases
like water vapor (with hydrogen bonding) have a higher aa value.
o bb: Larger molecules or gases with larger atomic radii have a
higher bb value.
Applications of Van der Waals Law
1. Predicting Real Gas Behavior: Helps understand and predict gas
properties under non-ideal conditions.
2. Liquefaction of Gases: Explains the behavior of gases as they
transition to liquids by considering intermolecular attractions.
3. Critical Temperature and Pressure: Defines the conditions under
which gases can be liquefied.
Limitations of Van der Waals Law
1. It is not accurate for gases at extremely high pressures or very low
temperatures.
2. It works better for gases that are close to ideal behavior and becomes less reliable for gases with strong intermolecular forces.
The Van der Waals equation bridges the gap between ideal and real gas behavior, making it a cornerstone in understanding the physical properties of gases.
