Is a perfect vacuum truly achievable in reality?

[papernuke]

Let's say there is a chamber with 1000 O₂ molecules. According to wikipedia, a perfect vacuum is an arbitrary space in which there is an absence of matter. Of course, the space that consists of the entire volume inside the chamber isn't a vacuum because of those 1000 molecules, but then isn't it true that somewhere, in a non-zero volume that is a subset of the volume of the entire container, there would be a perfect vacuum?

In other words, since those 1000 individual molecules can't take up the volume of the entire chamber, aren't there going to be volumes within the chamber in which no matter exists?

 

[Drakkith]

Of course. The spaces between the molecules are empty and therefore a perfect vacuum.

 

[papernuke]

Why is it considered "impossible" to create a perfect vacuum, then? Is it because the volume considered for the perfect vacuum is the entire volume of the chamber?

 

[Drakkith]

Why is it considered "impossible" to create a perfect vacuum, then? Is it because the volume considered for the perfect vacuum is the entire volume of the chamber?

Exactly.