TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER

(5.1 GAS)

Learning Outcome C1 C2 C3 C4

a Explain qualitatively the basic assumptions of √

kinetic molecular theory of gases for an ideal gas.

Define gas laws :

b i. Boyle’s Law, √
ii. Charles’s Law and
iii. Avogadro’s Law.

c Sketch and interpret the graphs of Boyle’s and √

Charles’s laws.

d Perform calculations involving gas laws and ideal √

gas equation.

e Determine molar mass of a volatile liquid using √

ideal gas equation.

f. Define and perform calculation using Dalton’s Law. √ √ √ √

Explain the ideal and non-ideal behaviour of gases

g in terms of intermolecular forces and molecular √
volume.

h Explain the conditions at which real gases √

approach the ideal behaviour.

Video 1: Introduction on States of Matter

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

Properties of gas:
 Has no definite volume and no fixed
shape
 Far apart from one another compare
to solid and liquid
 The size of particles are much
smaller when compare to the volume
of the container

5.1 GAS

LO 5.1 (a) Explain qualitatively the basic assumptions of kinetic molecular theory of gases for an
ideal gas. (C2)

Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases is used to explain

the observed behavior of ideal gases

Basic Assumptions of Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases for an Ideal Gas

1. The gas molecules are in continuous and random motion.

 constant moving in no particular direction.
 they frequently collide each other and with the walls of container.

2. The collisions between molecules are elastic collision.

 no loss kinetic energy
 kinetic energy before collisions are same after the collision.
 total kinetic energy is constant

3. The volume of gas molecules is negligible compare to the volume of container.

 size of gas particles are much smaller than the space
they occupy in the container.

4. The intermolecular forces between gas molecules are negligible.

5. Average kinetic energy of gas molecules is directly proportional to absolute

temperature of gas molecules.

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
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Pressure of Gas

Pressure exerted by a gas is caused by the

collision of the gas molecules with the
walls of the container

Gas Law :
a) Boyle’s Law b) Charles’s Law c) Avogadro’s Law d) Ideal Gas Equation e) Dalton’s Law

LO 5.1 (b) & (c) Define Boyle’s Law, sketch and interpret the graphs of Boyle’s Law (C1, C2)

a) Boyle’s Law

Definition At a constant temperature and number of mole, the volume of fixed mass of gas is
inversely proportional to its pressure
Relationship 𝑽 𝜶
𝟏
(n and T are constant)
𝑷

PV = k (proportionality constant)
Formula At two different pressure and volume :
𝑷 𝟏 𝑽𝟏 = 𝑷 𝟐 𝑽𝟐 Where P1 = initial pressure V1 = initial volume
P2 = final pressure V2 = final volume

i) Graph of volume against ii) Graph of volume against iii) Graph PV against
pressure 1/P pressure

Graph

Volume is inversely Volume is directly PV = constant

proportional to the proportional to the 1/P
pressure

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

LO 5.1 (b) & (c) Define Charles’s Law, sketch and interpret the graphs of Charles’s Law (C1, C2)

b) Charles’s Law

Definition At a constant pressure and number of mole, the volume of fixed mass of gas is directly
proportional to absolute temperature (K)
Relationship 𝑽 𝜶 𝑻 (n and P are constant)
𝑽
= k (proportionality constant)
𝑻

Formula At two different temperature and volume :

𝑽𝟏 𝑽𝟐 Where T1 = initial temperature (K) V1 = initial volume

= T2 = final temperature (K) V2 = final volume
𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟐

i) Graph of volume against ii) Graph of volume against temperature

temperature (Kelvin) (°C)

Graph

Absolute temperature :

0 K = 273.15 °C

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
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Combined Gas Law (Combination of Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law)

Combined Gas Law (Combination of Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law

Boyle’s Law Charles’s Law

𝟏 𝑽 𝜶 𝑻
𝑽 𝜶
𝑷

𝑻
𝑽 𝜶
𝑷

𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐
At different condition: =
𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟐

LO 5.1 (b) Define Avogadro’s Law

c) Avogadro’s Law

Definition At a constant temperature and pressure, the volume of fixed mass of gas is directly
proportional to the number of moles of gas present
Relationship 𝑽 𝜶 𝒏 (T and P are constant)
𝑽
= k (proportionality constant)
𝒏
Formula At two different no. of mole and volume :
Where n1 = initial no. of mole
𝑽𝟏 𝑽𝟐
=𝒏 V1 = initial volume
𝒏𝟏 𝟐
n2 = final no. of mole
V2 = final volume

Graph of volume against number of mole of gas

Graph

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

d) Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law equation describes how the V of a gas is affected by changes
in P, T and n

Video 2:Ideal
Gas Law

 Ideal Gas Equation can be used to calculate :

Pressure Temperature Molecular mass Density, ρ

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

KEEP IN MIND!!

Boyle’s Law Charles’s Law

𝑷 𝟏 𝑽𝟏 = 𝑷 𝟐 𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟏 𝑽
= 𝑻𝟐
𝑻𝟏 𝟐

Avogadro’s Law Combined Gas Law

𝑽𝟏 𝑽 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐
= 𝒏𝟐 =
𝒏𝟏 𝟐 𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟐

Ideal Gas Equation Molecular mass of gas

PV = nRT

Density of gas

Exercise:

1. Which graph is correct for a given mass of an ideal gas at constant pressure?

2. State the law describe in picture A, B and C.

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)
LO 5.1 (d) Perform calculations involving gas laws and ideal gas equation (C3)
5.1 (e) Determine molar mass of a volatile liquid using ideal gas equation. (C3)

Exercise involving gas law:

1. A sample of chlorine gas occupies a volume of 946 mL at a pressure of 726

mmHg. What is the pressure of the gas (in mmHg) if the volume is reduced at
constant temperature to 154 mL?
P1=726 mmHg V1=946 mL P2=? V2=154 mL

𝑷 𝟏 𝑽𝟏 = 𝑷 𝟏 𝑽𝟏

(726mmHg)(946mL)=P2 (154 mL)

P2= 4459.7 mmHg

2. A cylinder contains a gas at 5.25 atm pressure. When the gas allowed to expand
to a final volume of 12.5 L, the pressure drop to 1.85 atm. What was the original
volume of the gas?

3. A sample of carbon monoxide gas occupies 3.20 L at 125 °C. At what

temperature will the gas occupy a volume of 1.54 L if the pressure remains
constant?
V1= 3.20 L T1= 125 +273.15K=198.15 K V2= 1.54 L T2=?

𝑉1 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2

3.20 𝐿 1.54 𝐿
=
198.15 𝐾 𝑇2

𝑇2 = 191.61 𝐾

4. A sample of a gas has a pressure of 850 torr at 285°C. To what °C temperature

must the gas be heated to double its pressure if there is no change in the volume
of the gas?

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

5. Suppose we have a 12.2–L sample containing 0.50 mol of O2 gas at a pressure of

1 atm and a temperature of 25°C. If all of this O2 is converted to ozone (O3) at the
same temperature and pressure, what will the volume of the ozone?
3O2(g)  2O3(g)
V1=12.2 L

n1=0.50 mol

V2=?

n2=?

3 mol of O2 = 2 mol of O2

0.50 mol of O2 = 0.3333 mol of O2

𝑉1 𝑉1
=
𝑛1 𝑛1

𝟏𝟐. 𝟐 𝑳 𝑽𝟐
=
𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑽𝟐 = 𝟖. 𝟏𝟑 𝑳

6. Determine the volume of hydrogen gas obtained from the reaction of 6.50 g of
Zn and excess of dilute sulphuric acid at STP when P & T are kept constant?

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

7. A gas initially at 4.0 L, 600 torr and 66°C undergoes a change so that its final
volume and temperature become 1.7 L and 42°C. What is its final pressure?
Assume that the number of moles remains unchanged.

V1=4.0L, P1=0.7895 atm, T1 =66 +273.15K

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2

0.7895 𝑥 4 𝑃2 1.7𝐿
=
339.15𝐾 315.15 𝐾

𝑃2 = 1.726 𝑎𝑡𝑚
8. A sample of argon is trapped in a gas bulb at a pressure of 760 torr when the
volume is 100 mL and the temperature is 35°C.

What must it temperature be (in °C) if its pressure becomes 720 torr and its
volume 200 mL?

V1=100 mL, P1=760 torr, T1 =35 +273.15K=308.15K

V2 = 200 mL, P2=720 torr T2= ?

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2

760𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟 𝑥 100𝑚𝐿 720𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟 𝑥 200𝑚𝐿

=
308.15𝐾 𝑇2
𝑇2 = 583.9 𝐾
𝑇2 310.75𝑜 𝐶

9. An inflated balloon has a volume of 6.0 L at sea level (1.0 atm) and is allowed
to ascend in altitude until the pressure is 0.45 atm. During ascent the
temperature falls from 22°C to –21°C.Calculate the volume of the balloon at its
final attitude. ANS:11 L

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

10. A steel tank has a volume of 438 L and is filled with 0.885 kg of O2. Calculate
the pressure (in atm) of O2 at 21oC.

V1 = 438 L, m=0.885 kg, P1= ? T1=21oC + 273.15 K

𝑷𝑽 = 𝒏𝑹𝑻

𝑃 𝑥 438 𝐿 = 27.6563 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑥 0.08206 𝐿 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1

𝑃 = 1.524 𝑎𝑡𝑚

11. What is the volume of CO2 produced at 37o C and 1.00 atm when 5.60 g of
glucose are used up in the reaction:

C6H12O6 (s) + 6O2 (g) → 6CO2 (g) + 6H2O (l)

12. The alkali metals react with the halogens to form ionic metal halides. What
mass (in grams) of potassium chloride (KCl) forms when 5.25 L of chlorine gas
at 0.950 atm and 293 K reacts with 17.0 g of potassium?

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

13. A large evacuated flask initially has a mass of 134.567g. When the flask is
filled with a gas of unknown molar mass to a pressure of 735 torr at 31oC, its
mass is 137.456g. When the flask is evacuated again and then filled with
water at 31°C, it mass is 1067.9g. (The density of water at this temperature is
0.997g/mL). Assuming the ideal gas applies, calculate the molar mass of the
gas.

Mass of evacuated flask = 134.567 g Mass of evacuated flask + gas = 137.456 g

Pressure of gas = 735 torr Masss of evacuated flask + water = 107.8 g

Temperature of water = 31oC

The mass of the gas is the difference between the mass of the flask filled with gas
and that of the empty (evacuated) flask

Mass of gas = 137.456 g -134.567 g= 2.889 g

The volume of the gas equals the volume of water that the flask can hold. The
volume of water is calculated from its mass and density. The mass of the water is
the difference between the masses of the full and empty flask:

Mass of water = 1067.9 g – 134.567 g =933.333 g

By rearranging the equation for density (𝜌 = m/V), we have

𝑚
𝜌=
𝑉
933.333𝑔
𝑉=
0.997 𝑔𝑚𝐿−1

𝑉 = 936.14 𝑚𝐿 = 0.936 𝐿

we can calculate the molar mass of the gas:

1 𝑎𝑡𝑚
Pressure in atm : 735 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟 𝑥 𝑃 = 0.967 𝑎𝑡𝑚
760 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟

𝑚𝑅𝑇
𝑀𝑟 = 𝑃𝑉

2.889 𝑔 𝑥 0.08206 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1 𝑥 304.15 𝐾

𝑀𝑟 =
0.967 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑥 0.936 𝐿
𝑀𝑟 = 79.66 𝑔𝑚𝑙 −1

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

14. What is the density of oxygen gas O2(g) at 298 K and 0.987 atm?

15. A chemist has synthesized a greenish yellow compound of chlorine and finds
that its density is 7.71 gL-1 at 36oC and 2.88 atm. Calculate the molar mass of
the compound.

LO 5.1 (f) Define and perform calculation using Dalton’s Law. (C1, C2, C3 & C4)

Video 3: Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure

The total pressure of a mixture of non-reacting gases in a system is the

sum of their partial pressures exerted by each of the gas in the mixture

Partial pressure : The

pressure that a gas would
exert if it were present
alone in the container.

Formula :

P total : Total pressure of a mixture of non-reacting gas

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

PARTIAL PRESSURES AND MOLE FRACTION

Consider a case in which two gaseous, A and B, are in a container of volume V

Gas A (acording to ideal gas equation) Gas A (according to the ideal gas
Pressure exerted by gas A: equation)
Pressure exerted by gas B:
nA RT
PA = nB RT
V PB =
V
nA is the number of moles of A nB is the number of moles of B

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

Exercise:

1. A gaseous mixture made from 6.00 g O2 and 9.00 g CH4 is placed in a 15.0–L
vessel at 0oC.

What is the partial pressure of each gas, and what is the total pressure in the
vessel?

6.00𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑂2 =
32𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1

𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑂2 = 0.1875 𝑚𝑜𝑙

9.00𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝐻4 =
16𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1

𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝐻4 = 0.5625 𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑛𝑂2 𝑅𝑇
𝑃𝑂2 =
𝑉
0.1875 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑥 0.08206 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1 𝑥273.15 𝐾
𝑃𝑂2 =
15 𝐿
𝑃𝑂2 = 0.280 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑛𝐶𝐻4 𝑅𝑇
𝑃𝐶𝐻4 =
𝑉
0.5625 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑥 0.08206 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1 𝑥273.15 𝐾
𝑃𝑂2 =
15 𝐿
𝑃𝑂2 = 0.8406 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝑂2 + 𝑃𝐶𝐻4

𝑃𝑇 = 0.280 +0.8406

= 1.1206 𝑎𝑡𝑚

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

2. A mixture of gases contains 12.47 g of N2, 1.98 g of H2, and 8.15 g of NH3. If the
total pressure of the mixture is 1.56 atm, what is the partial pressure of each
component?

12.47𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑁2 =
28 𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1
= 0.4454 𝑚𝑜𝑙

1.98 𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐻2 =
2 𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1
= 0.99 mol

8.15 𝑔
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝐻3 =
17 𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1
= 0.4794 mol

𝑃𝑁2 = 𝑋𝑁2 𝑃𝑇
0.4454
𝑃𝑁2 = 𝑥1.56 𝑎𝑡𝑚
0.4454 + 0.99 + 0.4794
𝑃𝑁2 = 0.3629 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑃𝐻2 = 𝑋𝐻2 𝑃𝑇
0.99
𝑃𝑁2 = 𝑥1.56 𝑎𝑡𝑚
0.4454 + 0.99 + 0.4794
𝑃𝐻2 = 0.8066 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑃𝑁𝐻3 = 𝑃𝑇 − 𝑃𝑁2 − 𝑃𝐻2

𝑃𝑁𝐻3 = 1.56 𝑎𝑡𝑚 − 0.3629 𝑎𝑡𝑚 − 0.8066 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑃𝑁𝐻3 = 0.3906 𝑎𝑡𝑚
3. A gas mixture contains 82% methane, CH4 and 18% (w/w) ethane, C2H6. If a
15.50g sample of the gas mixture is placed in a 15-L container at 20oC,
calculate
i. The total moles of gases
ii. The total pressure (atm) and
iii. The partial pressure of each gas in the container.

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

COLLECTING A GASES OVER WATER

1. While studying chemical reactions that produce a gas as a product, it is often

necessary to determine the number of moles of the product gas.

2. One convenient way to do this, for gases that are insoluble in water, involved collecting
the gas over water. The gas produced is bubbled through the water and is collected by
displacing the water in a vessel that was initially filled with water.

3. The levels of the water inside and outside the collection vessel are made equal at the
end of the experiment. This ensure that the total pressure inside the vessel is equal to
the barometric pressure in the laboratory.

4. The volume of gas collected is then determined. Because some of the water
evaporates, forming water vapour, the total pressure of the mixture of gases equals to
the partial pressure of the gas interest plus the partial pressure of the water.

5. The partial pressure of water in the mixture is the vapor pressure of the water and it
depends on the temperature of the liquid water.

When a gas is collected “ over water”/ water displacement method, a mixture of the
particular gas and water vapour is collected.

By using Dalton’s Law :

Ptotal = Pgas + PH2O

Assumption: The gas does not react

with water and it is not soluble in it.

The vapor pressure of water, which is the pressure exerted by water vapor in
equilibrium with liquid water in a closed container, depends on the temperature.

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

Exercise:

1 Consider the reaction below:

2KClO3(s)  2KCl(s) + 3O2(g)

A sample of potassium chloride, KClO3, was decomposed upon heating, producing

potassium chloride, KCl and oxygen gas. The volume of gas collected by displacement
of water was 0.25 L at 26oC and a pressure of 765 mmHg. Given water vapour pressure
at 26oC is 25.2 mmHg, calculate [ 10 marks]

i. Partial pressure of O2
ii. The moles of O2 collected
iii. The amount of KClO3 (in g) decomposed.

2. 2NaN3(s)  2Na(s) + 3N2(g)

In an industrial lab simulation, 135 mL of N2 gas was collected over water at 25oC and
total pressure is 755 torr. How many grams of sodium azide NaN3 decomposed?

PH2O =at 25oC = 23.8 torr

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

LO 5.1 (g) Explain the ideal and non-ideal behaviour of gases in terms of intermolecular
forces and molecular volume. (C2)
5.1 (h) Explain the conditions at which real gases approach the ideal behaviour. (C2)

IDEAL GAS REAL GAS

The gas that obeys all the gas laws The gas that does not obey the ideal gas law but
(Boyle’s law, Charles’ law, Avogadro’s law). obey Van der Waals equation.

Equation: Ideal gas equation Equation: Van der Waals equation

𝑛2 𝑎
𝑃𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇 (𝑃 + ) + (𝑉 − 𝑛𝑏) = 𝑛𝑅𝑇
𝑉

a=measure how strongly the gas molecules

attract one another

b=measure of the finite volume occupied by the

molecules

Assumption/ characteristics of ideal gas Assumption/ characteristics of real gas

1. Intermolecular forces ( or attractive 1. Intermolecular forces (or attractive

and repulsive force) between gas and repulsive force) between gas
molecules is negligible. molecules is significant.

2. Volume of gas molecules are 2. Volume of gas molecules are

negligible significant

CONDITION REAL GAS APPROACH IDEAL BEHAVIOUR

HIGH TEMPERATURE LOW PRESSURE

1. When temperature increases 1. When the pressure decreases, the volume of

2. The average Kinetic energy of gas
molecules increases.
3. The gas molecules move faster
and able to overcome the
intermolecular force between gas
molecules.
4. The intermolecular force
between gas molecules are
negligible.
5. The gas will behave ideally.
container increases.
2. The distances between gas molecules are far
apart.
3. The volume occupied by gas molecules is
negligible since they occupy only a small
fraction as compared to the volume of the
container.
4. The Intermolecular forces between gas
molecules are negligible.
5. The gas molecules behave ideally.

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

CONDITION REAL GAS DEVIATE IDEAL BEHAVIOUR

LOW TEMPERATURE HIGH PRESSURE

1. When temperature decreases 1. At high pressure, the gas is compressed, the

2. The average kinetic energy of gas
molecules decreases.
3. All the molecules are condensed
and move slower, close to one
another
4. The intermolecular force
between the gas molecules
becomes significant.
5. The gas molecules deviate
from ideal behaviour.
volume of container decreases.
2. Gas molecules move closer to one another.
3. The intermolecular force between gas
molecules become significant.
4. The volume occupied by gas molecules are
significant since the gas molecules occupy a
larger fraction as compared to the volume of
the container.
5. The gas molecules deviate from ideal
behaviour.

Correction of Van Der Waals Equation

Adjust the measured pressure up Adjust the measured volume down

 factor of intermolecular force  factor of the molecular volume

a = constant to correct for intermolecular b: constant representing the volume

force between gas particles. The value of a occupied by the gas molecules
depends on strength of intermolecular forces
between gas molecules

The smaller a value, the weaker The smaller b value, the smaller volume
intermolecular forces between gas molecules occupied by gas molecules

20

Low temperature
 When temperature decrease, the average
Kinetic energy of gas molecules
decreases.
 All the molecules move slower, close to  Gas molecules are much close and
one another
 The intermolecular force between the gas
molecules becomes significant.
 The frequency of collision on the wall
of container decreases
 Pressure exerted by a real gas towards
wall of container is smaller than
expected from ideal gas.
Preal < Pideal
 The factor an2/v2 is added to the P term
to correct the pressure of real gas.
 term to correct the volume of real gas
a = constant to correct for intermolecular
force between gas particles
n = moles of particles
Combining both factors into an ideal gas equation :
TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)
High pressure
 At high pressure, the volume of container
decreases
volume of gas molecules become
significant.
 As a result, V real > V ideal
 The space occupied by molecules
restrict the movement of the gas
molecules. Hence must be subtracted
from the total volume
 So, the effective volume of the gas is
not V (volume of container) but
becomes V – nb
 nb: volume occupied by n moles of the
gas.
 The factor nb is subtracted from the V
which is larger than ideal gas.
V = (Vcontainer  V gas)
V = (Vcontainer  nb)
n : moles of molecules
b: constant representing the volume
occupied by the molecules
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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

Application Real Gas equation:

Equation:

a b
a is constant to correct pressure by b is constant to correct for volume occupied
including the intermolecular attractive by the gas molecules.
force.

 a is a positive constant which depends  b is a positive constant represent the

on the strength of the attractive volume occupied by gas molecules.
forces between gas molecules.

A) The smaller the a value, the weaker
attractive forces between gas
molecules.
 Thus, the attractive forces between
gas molecules is not significant.
 Gas molecules behave ideally.
A) The smaller the b value, the smaller
volume occupied by gas molecules
 Thus, the volume occupied by gas
molecules is not significant.
 Gas molecules behave ideally

B) The larger the a value, the stronger
attractive forces between gas
molecules.
 Thus, the attractive forces between
gas molecules is significant.
 The gas behaves more like a real
gas.
B) The LARGER the b value, the LARGER
volume occupied by gas molecules
 Thus, the volume occupied by gas
molecules is significant.
 The gas behaves more like a REAL
GAS.

when value near to zero or smaller value a and b: The gas behaves like an ideal gas
when value a and b larger: the gas molecules deviate from ideal gas behaviour and behaves more
like a real gas.

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 TOPIC 5: STATES OF MATTER
(5.1 GAS)

PAST YEAR 2002/03

The Van der Waals equation for 1 mol of real gas is as follow :

Determine and explain whether :

1. H2 or H2S molecules has a higher of a and b
2. a or b is related to boiling point

1. ______ molecules have a higher a value because they have the stronger
intermolecular forces.
2. _______molecules have a higher b value because their size is bigger, therefore have
a higher volume.
3. ________ is related to boiling point because stronger intermolecular forces, required
more energy to break that bond. Thus higher boiling point.
Q2

 ______ atoms have a smaller b value because their atomic size are smaller than
________
 ________ atoms have a smaller a value because they have the weaker attraction for
one another than __________________

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