Chemistry 5350

Advanced Physical Chemistry

Fall Semester 2013

Quiz 1: Chapters 1 and 2

Name: Angelo Raymond Rossi September 5, 2013

Useful Information
Gas Constants: 8.314 J mol−1 K−1
8.314 Pa m3 mol−1 K−1
62.36 L Torr mol−1 K−1
8.206 × 10−2 L atm mol−1 K−1
8.314 × 10−2 L bar mol−1 K−1
Conversion Factor: 1 L-bar = 100 J
Ideal Gas Law: PV = R nRT
Work; w = P dV
First Law of Thermodynamics: ∆U = q + w
Enthalpy: ∆H = ∆U + ∆(P V )

1. A mixture of methane and ethane is contained in a glass bulb of 500 cm3 capacity at 25◦ C .
The pressure is 1.25 bar, and the mass in the bulb is 0.530 g.
What is the average molar mass, and what is the mole fraction of methane?

m
P V = nRT = RT
M
Then, the average molar mass is
RT (0.530 g) (8.314 × 10−2 L bar mol−1 K−1 )(298K)
M̄ = m × = = 21.0 g mol−1
PV (1.25 bar)(0.500L)

The average molar mass (molar mass of the mixture) is a mole fraction weighted average of the molar
masses of methane and ethane.

y1 = mole fraction of methane y2 = mole fraction of ethane

y1 M1 + y2 M2 = M̄

y1 × 16.0 + (1 − y1 ) × 30.0 = 21.0

y1 = 0.643
2. An ideal gas is expanded reversibly and isothermally from 10 bar to 1 bar at 298.15 K.
What are the values of

(a) For an isothermal expansion of an ideal gas

 
∂U
∆Um = =0
∂V T

the change in internal energy is zero.

(b) Because ∆U = 0 from part (a), and because there is no change in temperature for an isothermal
process, ∆(nRT ) = 0

∆H = ∆U + ∆(P V ) = ∆U + ∆(nRT ) = 0

(c) w per mol

P2 1bar
w = RT ln = 8.314 J mol−1 K−1 298 K ln = −5.70 kJ mol−1
P1 10bar

(d) q per mol

∆U = q + w = 0
then
q = −w = 5.70 kJ mol−1

(e) If the ideal gas expands isothermally against a constant pressure of 1 bar, how much work is
done on the gas?
   
nRT nRT Pf
w = −P ∆V = P (Vf − Vi ) = −Pf − = nRT −1
Pf Pi Pi

 
1 bar 100 J
w = 1 mol × 8.314 × 10 −2
L bar mol −1
K −1
× 298 K −1 × = −2.234 kJ
10 bar 1 L bar