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Solving Van der Waals Equation Problems

The Van der Waals equation deals with the effects of molecules interacting in a gaseous state. The Van der Waals equation can be called the extension of the ideal gas law.

Van der Waals Equation of state helps us assist the behavior of real gas. It is a formula

that determines the distance between two points. It is broadly used in chemistry and

thermodynamics. In 1873 Johannes Van der Waals created this equation. It improves the Ideal

Gas Law as well as anticipates the features of real gasses by defining particles of non-zero

volume regulated by attractive pairwise forces. This is basically an upgraded version of the ideal

gas law. In this article, we have put extra effort into collecting some of the exciting problems regarding Van der Waal’s equation in the end but beginning with the definition of Van der Wall equation and statements.

What Is The Van der Waals Equation?

The Van der Waals equation deals with the effects of molecules interacting in

a gaseous state while extending this to the ideal gas law. The Van der Waals equation, in a way,

can be called the extension of the ideal gas law. According to the ideal gas law, the relationship given below is that for ‘n’ number of moles that are occupied by any gas, in volume ‘V” and at pressure ‘P’ and temperature ‘T’ where the gas constant is denoted by ‘R’:

PV = nRT

The Van der Waals equation can be written in this way:

(P+an²/V²) (V-nb) = nRT

So in this equation P, V, R, T, and n stand for pressure, volume, gas constant, temperature, and

moles of gas, respectively. The ‘a’ and ‘b’ stands for constants specific to certain gases. The units of the van der Waals equation for a is atm lit2 mol-2, and the unit for b is liter mol-1.

Derivation Of The Van der Waals Equation

First, we will calculate the one mole of a gaseous mixture in the ideal gas equation.

P = RT/V

Van der Waals Equation Problems

Using the Van der Waals equation, answer the following questions correctly.

1 . The Vand der Waals equation explains the behavioral change of which of the following:

  1. Real Gases
  2. Non-real Gases
  3. Vapors
  4. Ideal Gases

Solution: (a) Real Gases. Van der Waals Equation of state helps us assist the behavior of real gas. This equation can only give accurate answers for the real gasses, which are only above the critical temperature.

2 . The term in the equation of Van der Waals which determines the intramolecular forces is:

  1. V – b
  2. RT
  3. RT-1
  4. P + a/V²

Solution: (d) P + a/V² determines the intramolecular forces in the equation of Van der Waals.

3.The term in the equation of Van der Waals which determines the effective volume calculated of non-ideal gases is:

  1. P + a/V²
  2. V – b
  3. RT-¹
  4. RT

Solution: (b) V – b determines the effective volume calculated of non-ideal gases in the equation of Van der Waals.

4 . What happens to the Van der Waals equation when the pressure is increased drastically?

  1. (P+an²/V²) (V) = nRT
  2. (P)(V – b) = nRT
  3. PV = RT
  4. No change at all

Solution: (a) (P+an²/V²) (V) = nRT is the right choice because when the pressure increases, the molecules of the gases are forced to come close to each other. By increasing the pressure, the volume of the gases is definitely going to decrease. Hence, we can ignore the effective volume constant b in the equation, using (V – b) as V.

Conclusion

The perfect Gas Law did not explain the behavior of real gasses. The Van der Waals law equation is a modified edition of the best Gas Law. ‘a’ and ‘b’ are named because the constant is specific to every gas. Supporting the talents of the particles, this extra deviation is additionally

used. The values below the critical temperature are accepted within the Van der Waals equation. The Gasses consist of the point masses that undergo flawlessly elastic collisions as stated by the law of ideal gasses. It can analyze the behavior of gas. To conclude, the Van der Waals equation is a thermodynamics equation of state that assumes that fluids are made up of non-zero volume particles that are attracted to each other.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What do the letters “a” and “b” signify in the van der Waals equation?

Ans. In the van der Waals equation, the constant ‘a’ represents the magnitude of ...Read full

Is the Van der Waals equation accurate?

Ans. This equation does not give very accurate predictions on the resources of the substances over their whole range...Read full

How is the law of ideal gas different from the state's Van der Waals gas equation?

Ans. The general difference is that the ideal gas law is used for the ideal gases only, while the van der Waals equa...Read full