Difference between an ideal gas and a real gas

In summary, an ideal gas is a model of a gas where there are no forces between molecules except when they are in contact. A real gas has additional forces in play due to electromagnetic interactions, and particles in the gas have finite sizes.
  • #1
pavadrin
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Hey
Could somebody please explain what the difference between an ideal gas and a real gas are? Or post a suitable link from which I can understand the concept surrounding this issue.
Thanks
Pavadrin
 
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  • #2
An ideal gas is a picture of a gas where there are no forces in between molecules except when they are in contact. You can think of an ideal gas as a collection of billiard balls bouncing around in 3 dimensions. To the billiard balls there is no difference in being a 1 meter away from the next closest ball, or being 1 mm away. Because there are no forces between the different balls. When they hit they bounce off each other instantly with no loss of energy and go in new directions.

In a real gas, there are additional forces in play due to electromagnetic interactions betweeen the molecules. Usually attractive forces are stronger at longer distances and repulsive forces are stronger at very short distances. So real gasses usually will be a little more compact (but not always) because they molecules are pulling each other together. If a gas has strong enough attractive forces, it turns into a liquid, where all the particles will condence so much that they are not allowed to go free of each other anymore.

The only difference between an ideal gas and a real gas is the types of forces we are allowed to use. There is no such thing as an ideal gas in real life, but it is a very good approximation for many gasses like N2, O2, and Nobel gases. It makes the math a lot easier to work with.

~Lyuokdea
 
  • #3
Lyuokdea is almost right - but there is one more important difference. Particles of ideal gas are infinitesimally small, while these of real gases have finite sizes.
 
  • #4
I would just like to add that in an ideal gas, any collisions between the molecules or the container is assumed to be elastic. Also, the collision time is infintesimal when compared with the time between collisions.

~H
 
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  • #5
Thanks you so much for everyone that took the time to kindly reply, especially ~Lyuokdea for the in depth explanation.
Pavadrin
 

1. What is the main difference between an ideal gas and a real gas?

The main difference between an ideal gas and a real gas is that an ideal gas follows all the assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases, while a real gas deviates from these assumptions.

2. What are the assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases?

The assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases are: 1) gas particles are in constant, random motion; 2) gas particles are point masses with no volume; 3) gas particles do not interact with each other; 4) gas particles only interact with the walls of the container through elastic collisions; and 5) the average kinetic energy of gas particles is directly proportional to the temperature.

3. How do real gases deviate from the assumptions of the kinetic theory?

Real gases deviate from the assumptions of the kinetic theory in several ways. Firstly, real gas particles have volume and therefore do not behave as point masses. Secondly, real gas particles do interact with each other, leading to intermolecular forces. Thirdly, real gases can also deviate from ideal behavior at high pressures and low temperatures.

4. How do the properties of an ideal gas differ from those of a real gas?

The properties of an ideal gas, such as pressure, volume, and temperature, follow the ideal gas law exactly at all conditions. On the other hand, the properties of a real gas can deviate from the ideal gas law due to the factors mentioned in the previous questions, such as intermolecular forces and non-zero volume of gas particles.

5. Can a real gas ever behave like an ideal gas?

Under certain conditions, such as low pressures and high temperatures, a real gas can behave closely to an ideal gas. This is known as the ideal gas limit. However, at higher pressures and lower temperatures, the deviations from ideal behavior become more significant and the gas cannot be considered an ideal gas.

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