Deriving virial coefficients B and C from van der Waals equation

[winterwind]

Homework Statement

Express the van der Waals equation of state as a virial expansion in powers of 1/V_m and obtain expressions for B and C in terms of the parameters a and b. The expansion you will need is

(1-x)^-1 = 1 + x + x² + ...

Measurements on argon gave B = -2.17 cm³ mol^-1 and C = 1200 cm⁶ mol^-2 for the virial coefficients at 273 K. What are the values of a and b in the corresponding van der Waals equation of state?

Homework Equations

van der Waals equation: p = nRT/(V-nb) - a(n/V)²

The Attempt at a Solution

Not sure how to approach this...

Thanks! This pset is due tomorrow morning so please help! :(

 

[Borek]

$$V-nb = V(1-\frac{nb}{V})$$

and now you can treat (1-nb/V) as (1-x).

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