Entropy and the partition function for nitrogen

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the translational entropy for nitrogen (N2), where a calculated value of 207.8 J/Kmol significantly deviates from the tabulated value of 150.4 J/Kmol. The user is confused about the discrepancy, suspecting an error in the constants or units used in the calculation. They confirm using the correct mass for nitrogen and constants but struggle with the logarithmic expression yielding an unexpected result. A key realization is the importance of converting liters to SI units, which may have contributed to the calculation error. The conversation highlights the critical role of unit conversion in thermodynamic calculations.
jbowers9
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Homework Statement



I'm attempting to calculate the translational entropy for N2 and I get a value of 207.8 J/Kmol. The tabulated value is given as 150.4 and I am stumped as to why the decrepancy.
T = 298.15 K and P = 0.99 atm and V = 24.8 L
R = 8.314 J/Kmol[/B]

Homework Equations


Strans = R ln[(2ΠmkT/h2)3/2*V*e5/2/Na][/B]

The Attempt at a Solution


I plugged in all the correct(?) values and cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong.
[/B]
 
Last edited:
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What value did you use for the mass?
 
28 amu =
4.65E-26 kg
 
My calculated value is off by 30% which is huge. I rechecked the constants I used and the units :
h = 6.63E-34 m2kg/s
k
B = 1.38E-23 JK-1
NA
= 6.02E+23
T
= 298.15 K
V
= 24.79 L
I really am stumped. I'm using Excel to do the calculation and I've checked it several times and
ln[(2ΠmkT/h2)3/2*Ve5/2/Na] calculates to 25 when it "should" be about 18 and change.
I don't know where to go with this. All the other entropy contributions to the entropy from the total partition function were right on the mark except this one. HELP!
 
jbowers9 said:
My calculated value is off by 30% which is huge. I rechecked the constants I used and the units :
h = 6.63E-34 m2kg/s
k
B = 1.38E-23 JK-1
NA
= 6.02E+23
T
= 298.15 K
V
= 24.79 L
I really am stumped. I'm using Excel to do the calculation and I've checked it several times and
ln[(2ΠmkT/h2)3/2*Ve5/2/Na] calculates to 25 when it "should" be about 18 and change.
I don't know where to go with this. All the other entropy contributions to the entropy from the total partition function were right on the mark except this one. HELP!

I've also found, thanks to Excel, that the descrepancy involes either a factor of .01 inside the power expression
(2ΠmkT/h2)3/2 or .001 times the expression [(2ΠmkT/h2)3/2*Ve5/2/Na] but I still don't know what it could be.
 
Be sure to convert liters to SI units.
 
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Likes DrClaude
Wow. Thanks a pile dude(?). What an embarassing oversite on my part! (Homer Simpson Duh!) All this time, I'm in my 50's, and I'm thinking liter is, or absentmindedly thinking it is, the SI unit for volume. It's all about the units, man.
 
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