Calculating Vapour Pressure for 1L Container with 5mL Water at 20°C

In summary, vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by the vapor of a substance in equilibrium with its liquid or solid phase at a given temperature. It can be measured using techniques such as the boiling point method, the static method, and the dynamic method, which involve measuring the temperature and pressure of the vapor in a closed container. The main factors that affect vapor pressure are temperature, intermolecular forces, and molecular weight. Vapor pressure can be calculated using the Antoine equation, which takes into account the substance's boiling point, a constant, and the temperature. Understanding vapor pressure is important in various scientific fields, as it helps in predicting the behavior of gases and liquids and is crucial in industrial processes.
  • #1
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a 1 L container with 5 mL of water held at 20degcel

I have to figure out the vapour pressure.

I was told to use PV=nRT..but how do I find n?

thanks
 
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  • #2
First what does n MEAN?
 
  • #3


To find n (the number of moles), you will need to know the molar mass of water, which is approximately 18 g/mol. Then, you can calculate the number of moles using the following formula:

n = mass of water (in grams) / molar mass of water

In this case, the mass of water is 5 mL, but we need to convert it to grams. The density of water at 20°C is approximately 0.998 g/mL, so 5 mL of water would have a mass of 5 x 0.998 = 4.99 grams.

So, n = 4.99 g / 18 g/mol = 0.277 moles.

Now, you can plug this value of n into the ideal gas law equation, along with the given values for volume (1 L), temperature (20°C = 293 K), and R (the ideal gas constant, which is 0.0821 L atm/mol K):

PV = nRT

(1 L) (x atm) = (0.277 mol) (0.0821 L atm/mol K) (293 K)

x = 0.0094 atm

Therefore, the vapour pressure for a 1 L container with 5 mL of water at 20°C would be approximately 0.0094 atm.
 

1. What is vapor pressure?

Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by the vapor of a substance in equilibrium with its liquid or solid phase at a given temperature.

2. How is vapor pressure measured?

Vapor pressure can be measured using various techniques such as the boiling point method, the static method, and the dynamic method. These methods involve measuring the temperature and pressure of the vapor in a closed container.

3. What factors affect vapor pressure?

The main factors that affect vapor pressure are temperature, intermolecular forces, and molecular weight. The higher the temperature, the higher the vapor pressure. Stronger intermolecular forces and higher molecular weight result in lower vapor pressure.

4. How do you calculate vapor pressure?

Vapor pressure can be calculated using the Antoine equation, which relates the vapor pressure of a substance to its temperature. The equation takes into account the substance's boiling point, a constant, and the temperature.

5. Why is understanding vapor pressure important?

Understanding vapor pressure is important in many scientific fields such as chemistry, physics, and meteorology. It helps in predicting the behavior of gases and liquids at different temperatures and pressures, and is crucial in the design and operation of various industrial processes.

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