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Ch.10 - Gases
Chapter 10, Problem 117b

Large amounts of nitrogen gas are used in the manufacture of ammonia, principally for use in fertilizers. Suppose 120.00 kg of N2(g) is stored in a 1100.0-L metal cylinder at 280 °C. (b) By using the data in Table 10.3, calculate the pressure of the gas according to the van der Waals equation.

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Identify the van der Waals equation: \( \left( P + \frac{an^2}{V^2} \right) (V - nb) = nRT \), where \( a \) and \( b \) are van der Waals constants for nitrogen.
Convert the mass of nitrogen gas to moles using its molar mass: \( n = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{molar mass}} \).
Convert the temperature from Celsius to Kelvin: \( T(K) = T(°C) + 273.15 \).
Substitute the values for \( n \), \( V \), \( T \), and the van der Waals constants \( a \) and \( b \) for nitrogen into the van der Waals equation.
Solve the van der Waals equation for pressure \( P \).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Van der Waals Equation

The Van der Waals equation is an adjustment of the ideal gas law that accounts for the volume occupied by gas molecules and the attractive forces between them. It is expressed as (P + a(n/V)²)(V - nb) = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and a and b are constants specific to each gas. This equation is particularly useful for real gases under high pressure and low temperature conditions.
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Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law is a fundamental equation in chemistry that relates the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of a gas. It is expressed as PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin. While it provides a good approximation for many gases, it does not account for intermolecular forces or the volume of gas particles, which is where the Van der Waals equation becomes relevant.
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Gas Properties and Conditions

Understanding the properties of gases, including pressure, volume, temperature, and the number of moles, is crucial for solving gas-related problems. Pressure is the force exerted by gas molecules colliding with the walls of their container, while volume is the space the gas occupies. Temperature affects the kinetic energy of gas molecules, influencing their behavior. These properties are interrelated and can be manipulated using equations like the Ideal Gas Law and Van der Waals equation to predict gas behavior under various conditions.
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Related Practice
Open Question
Does the effect of intermolecular attraction on the properties of a gas become more significant or less significant if the gas is compressed to a smaller volume at constant temperature?
Open Question
Which of the noble gases other than radon would you expect to deviate most readily from ideal behavior? Use the density data in Table 7.8 to provide evidence in support of your answer.
Textbook Question
It turns out that the van der Waals constant b equals four times the total volume actually occupied by the molecules of a mole of gas. Using this figure, calculate the fraction of the volume in a container actually occupied by Ar atoms (b) at 20.27 MPa pressure and 0 °C. (Assume for simplicity that the ideal-gas equation still holds.)
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Textbook Question

Large amounts of nitrogen gas are used in the manufacture of ammonia, principally for use in fertilizers. Suppose 120.00 kg of N2(g) is stored in a 1100.0-L metal cylinder at 280 °C. (c) Under the conditions of this problem, which correction dominates, the one for finite volume of gas molecules or the one for attractive interactions?

Textbook Question

Cyclopropane, a gas used with oxygen as a general anesthetic, is composed of 85.7% C and 14.3% H by mass. (a) If 1.56 g of cyclopropane has a volume of 1.00 L at 99.7 kPa and 50.0 °C, what is the molecular formula of cyclopropane?

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Textbook Question

Cyclopropane, a gas used with oxygen as a general anesthetic, is composed of 85.7% C and 14.3% H by mass. (b) Judging from its molecular formula, would you expect cyclopropane to deviate more or less than Ar from ideal-gas behavior at moderately high pressures and room temperature? Explain.