Did I Calculate the Molecular Volume Fraction Correctly?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the molecular volume fraction of an ideal gas under specific conditions, including temperature and pressure. The original poster presents a problem involving the ideal gas law and the volume occupied by gas molecules, questioning the validity of the assumption that gas molecules have zero volume.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the ideal gas law to find the volume occupied by the gas and the subsequent calculation of the volume occupied by the gas molecules. Questions arise regarding the interpretation of variables in the equations and the implications of the ideal gas assumption.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the calculations for parts (b) and (c), suggesting that understanding the number of molecules is crucial for determining the volume occupied by the molecules. There is an ongoing exploration of the validity of the ideal gas assumption based on the calculated ratios.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted confusion regarding the interpretation of the variable "N" in the ideal gas law, as well as concerns about the feasibility of obtaining a fraction of a molecule in the calculations. Participants are also considering the implications of the assumptions made in the context of the problem.

dg_5021
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A gas has a temperature of 310 K and a pressure of 101 KPa. (a) Find the volume occupied by 1.25 mol of the gas, assuming it is ideal. (b) Assuming the gas molecules can be approximated as small spheres of diameter 2.5x10^-10 meters, determine the fraction of the volume found in part (a) that is occupied by the molecules. (c) In determining the properties of an ideal gas, we assume that molecules are points of zero volume. Discuss the validity of this assumption for the case considered here.

(a) PV=NRT V=(NRT)/P V= ((1.25mol x 8.31 J/molxK x 310 K)/1.01 x10^5Pa)
= 3.19 x 10^-2 m^3

(b)

I was able to do part (a) but I don't know what to do for (b) or (c) or how to start it? Can someone please help? Thanks
 
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dg_5021 said:
A gas has a temperature of 310 K and a pressure of 101 KPa. (a) Find the volume occupied by 1.25 mol of the gas, assuming it is ideal. (b) Assuming the gas molecules can be approximated as small spheres of diameter 2.5x10^-10 meters, determine the fraction of the volume found in part (a) that is occupied by the molecules. (c) In determining the properties of an ideal gas, we assume that molecules are points of zero volume. Discuss the validity of this assumption for the case considered here.

(a) PV=NRT V=(NRT)/P V= ((1.25mol x 8.31 J/molxK x 310 K)/1.01 x10^5Pa)
= 3.19 x 10^-2 m^3

(b)

I was able to do part (a) but I don't know what to do for (b) or (c) or how to start it? Can someone please help? Thanks

Figure out what "N" means in PV = NRT. You should know the connection between this, and the total number of molecules in the gas. Once you know this number, then finding the volume occupied by the molecules should be a matter of baby algebra since you should know how to find the volume of a sphere.

For the last part, compare the ratio of the occupied volume with the total volume of the gas. If the Ideal Gas assumption is that the gas molecule's occupied volume is negligible, is the ratio that you obtained is consistent with such an assumption?

Zz.
 
(2.5x10^-10)/2 = 1.25x10^-10 m

V= (4 x pie x (1.25x10^-10^3)/3 = 8.18123x10^30 m^3


N= (PV)/(RT) = .000193 Molecules

(3.19 x 10^-2 m^3)/(.000193 Molecules) =165.155 m^3

Did I do part (b) right?
 
dg_5021 said:
(2.5x10^-10)/2 = 1.25x10^-10 m

V= (4 x pie x (1.25x10^-10^3)/3 = 8.18123x10^30 m^3


N= (PV)/(RT) = .000193 Molecules

(3.19 x 10^-2 m^3)/(.000193 Molecules) =165.155 m^3

Did I do part (b) right?


pV=\nu RT
and
\nu =\frac{N}{N_A}
N-number of molecules
N_A- Avogadro's number
 
dg_5021 said:
(2.5x10^-10)/2 = 1.25x10^-10 m

V= (4 x pie x (1.25x10^-10^3)/3 = 8.18123x10^30 m^3


N= (PV)/(RT) = .000193 Molecules

(3.19 x 10^-2 m^3)/(.000193 Molecules) =165.155 m^3

Did I do part (b) right?

Er... take 12 steps back and look at your "number" here. Does it make sense that you have a FRACTION of a molecule in a gas? You have not understood the meaning of "N" in that equation.

Zz.
 

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