Calculating Ideal Gas Volume with the Ideal Gas Law

In summary, the ideal gas law can be used to find the length of an edge of a small cube in an ideal gas at 27.0 degrees Celsius and 1.00 atmosphere pressure. The value of n is needed in the equation, which can be found by converting the temperature to kelvin and considering the number of moles in one particle.
  • #1
jaded18
150
0
Consider an ideal gas at 27.0 degrees Celsius and 1.00 atmosphere pressure. Imagine the molecules to be uniformly spaced, with each molecule at the center of a small cube.

What is the length L of an edge of each small cube if adjacent cubes touch but don't overlap?
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I know that the ideal gas law states V=nRT/p and that in this case R=8.2057(10^-5) m^3 (atm/mol*K), p=1atm, T=27+273K. What is n? I can't solve without n!
 
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  • #2
Simply plug and chug.

You may be forgetting to convert 27 centigrade to an absolute temperature scale such as kelvin.Never mind that; I didn't see the second part of your post.As for n, think about how many atoms you are finding the "cube" for.
 
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  • #3
am i approaching it the wrong way?
 
  • #4
No you are approaching it the right way.

Think about n. How many moles is one particle?
 
  • #5
are you looking for 6.02*10^23 as the answer to your ^ question? sorry don't get it even if that's what you're looking for
 

1. What is the ideal gas law?

The ideal gas law is a mathematical equation that describes the relationship between the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of a gas. It is written as PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the gas constant, and T is the temperature.

2. How is the ideal gas law used to find volume?

The ideal gas law can be rearranged to solve for volume by dividing both sides of the equation by P. This results in the equation V = (nRT)/P. By plugging in the known values for pressure, temperature, and number of moles, the volume of the gas can be calculated.

3. What are the units of measurement for the variables in the ideal gas law?

The units of measurement for pressure are typically atmospheres (atm), volume is measured in liters (L), temperature is measured in Kelvin (K), and the gas constant (R) has units of L*atm/mol*K. It is important to make sure all units are consistent when using the ideal gas law.

4. Is the ideal gas law applicable to all gases?

The ideal gas law is most accurate for gases at low pressures and high temperatures. At extremely high pressures or low temperatures, the behavior of the gas deviates from the ideal gas law. Additionally, gases with strong intermolecular forces, such as water vapor or ammonia, may not follow the ideal gas law.

5. How is the ideal gas law used in real-world applications?

The ideal gas law is used in various fields, including chemistry, physics, and engineering. It is commonly used in the design of engines and other machinery, as well as in the study of atmospheric conditions. It is also used in gas laws experiments to determine the properties of gases.

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