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Ch.10 - Gases: Their Properties & Behavior
Chapter 10, Problem 115

Use both the ideal gas law and the van der Waals equation to calculate the pressure in atmospheres of 45.0 g of NH3 gas in a 1.000-L container at 0 °C, 50 °C, and 100 °C. For NH3, a = 4.17 L² atm/mol² and b = 0.0371 L/mol.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Convert the mass of NH3 to moles using its molar mass. The molar mass of NH3 is approximately 17.03 g/mol.
Use the ideal gas law, PV = nRT, to calculate the pressure at each temperature. Remember to convert temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273.15.
For the ideal gas law, use R = 0.0821 L atm/mol K. Substitute the values for n (moles of NH3), V (volume in liters), and T (temperature in Kelvin) to find the pressure P.
Use the van der Waals equation: \( \left( P + \frac{an^2}{V^2} \right) (V - nb) = nRT \). Substitute the values for a, b, n, V, and T to solve for the pressure P at each temperature.
Compare the pressures obtained from the ideal gas law and the van der Waals equation to understand the effect of intermolecular forces and molecular volume on gas behavior.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law is a fundamental equation in chemistry that relates the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of a gas. It is expressed as PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin. This law assumes that gas particles do not interact and occupy no volume, making it a good approximation under many conditions.
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Van der Waals Equation

The Van der Waals equation is an adjustment of the Ideal Gas Law that accounts for the volume occupied by gas molecules and the attractive forces between them. It is expressed as (P + a(n/V)²)(V - nb) = nRT, where 'a' and 'b' are constants specific to each gas. This equation provides a more accurate description of real gas behavior, especially at high pressures and low temperatures, where deviations from ideality occur.
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Molar Mass and Moles Calculation

To solve gas law problems, it is essential to calculate the number of moles of a substance using its mass and molar mass. For ammonia (NH3), the molar mass is approximately 17.03 g/mol. By dividing the mass of the gas (45.0 g) by its molar mass, one can determine the number of moles, which is necessary for applying both the Ideal Gas Law and the Van der Waals equation to find the pressure in the container.
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