Does ionization affect the volume of hydrogen gas at STP?

In summary, the question is whether the remaining protons after ionizing a mole of hydrogen gas would have a larger volume than 22.4 L at STP. While taking away the electrons would decrease the volume of each proton, the repulsion between them would also play a role. Ultimately, the pressure in a 22.4 L container filled with protons would be lower than if it was filled with a mole of hydrogen gas due to the Coulomb forces between the positively charged ions.
  • #1
Misha Kuznetsov
49
4
At STP, a mole of hydrogen gas would take up 22.4 L. If that hydrogen gas was ionized and stripped of 100% of the electrons, would the remaining protons have a larger volume than 22.4 L? I'm not sure because on one hand, taking away the electrons leaves each proton with much less volume, but on the other hand, protons repel from one another.

So in essence, would the pressure be higher in a 22.4 L container full of hydrogen gas or the corresponding number of protons?

- Misha
 
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  • #2
Misha Kuznetsov said:
At STP, a mole of hydrogen gas would take up 22.4 L. If that hydrogen gas was ionized and stripped of 100% of the electrons, would the remaining protons have a larger volume than 22.4 L? I'm not sure because on one hand, taking away the electrons leaves each proton with much less volume, but on the other hand, protons repel from one another.

So in essence, would the pressure be higher in a 22.4 L container full of hydrogen gas or the corresponding number of protons?

- Misha
The quick answer is no. I don't think a bunch of ionized hydrogen atoms can reasonably approximate a perfect gas.
 
  • #3
OK, so the pressure in a 22.4 L container would be less if it was filled with protons than if it was filled with a mole of hydrogen gas?
 
  • #4
Misha Kuznetsov said:
OK, so the pressure in a 22.4 L container would be less if it was filled with protons than if it was filled with a mole of hydrogen gas?

Do you really think that a container filled with a bunch of positively charged ions is going to have lower pressure? This thing would probably blow up like a bomb, assuming you could corral the ions in the first place.

Don't discount the effect of Coulomb forces when talking about matter which is ionized.
 
  • #5
Alright, I just wasn't sure how it would work. Since 99.999% of an atom is empty space, I thought that maybe this would cause it to take up less volume.

But thank you for answering.
 

What is the volume of ionized hydrogen?

The volume of ionized hydrogen refers to the amount of space occupied by ionized hydrogen atoms. It is typically measured in cubic meters or cubic centimeters.

How is the volume of ionized hydrogen calculated?

The volume of ionized hydrogen can be calculated by multiplying the number of ionized hydrogen atoms by the volume of each atom. This can be done using the ideal gas law or other equations specific to ionized gases.

What factors affect the volume of ionized hydrogen?

The volume of ionized hydrogen can be affected by several factors, such as temperature, pressure, and the concentration of hydrogen atoms. Additionally, any external electric or magnetic fields can also impact the volume of ionized hydrogen.

Why is the volume of ionized hydrogen important in scientific research?

The volume of ionized hydrogen is important in scientific research because it is a key parameter in understanding the behavior and properties of ionized gases. It is also important in fields such as astrophysics, where ionized hydrogen is a major component of interstellar matter.

How is the volume of ionized hydrogen measured in experiments?

The volume of ionized hydrogen can be measured in experiments using various techniques, such as spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and ion mobility spectrometry. These methods allow for accurate measurement and analysis of the volume of ionized hydrogen in a given sample.

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