The Ideal Gas Calculator

The ideal gas calculator can solve for any one of the variables. If the mass or the molar mass of the gas are not used
problem, those input fields should be left preset to zero. If either the mass or the molar mass is assigned a nonzero v
determination of the zeroed value will be made. To select a unit of pressure, volume, or temperature, left click on the
containing the unit and use the drop down list. All entries will be converted to match the units found in the gas const

The formatting of the values are left to the user. To format a particular cell, right click on the cell containing the value
click on Format Cells. If you are interested in the actual value, simply click on the cell and all of the decimal places w
be displayed in the Formula bar.

P= atm
V= L Calculate
n= mol
m= 0 g
MM = 0.000 g/mol
R= 0.0821 L*atm/mol/K
T= K Clear Data
r mass of the gas are not used in a
r mass is assigned a nonzero value, a
r temperature, left click on the cell
he units found in the gas constant, R.

on the cell containing the value and

and all of the decimal places will
atm mL
torr cm3
mm dm3
cm L
kPa
L*atm/mol/K °C
J/mol/K K
 8.7E-05 The van der Waals Gas Calculator

The calculator below can be used to calculate the van der Waals pressure, P V. The cells containing a comment
indicator can be changed to the desired quantities.

The van der Waals equation expressing P as a function of V is

P - n•R•T/(V-n•b) + a•n2/V2 = 0

Gas MM a b PV V m n T
(g/mol) (atm•L2•mol-2) (10-2•L•mol-1) (atm) (L) (g) (mol) (K)
Ar 39.95 1.363 3.219 63.66 5.00 500 12.52 323
CO2 44.01 3.640 4.267 47.93 5.00 500 11.36 323
He 4.00 0.057 2.370 1591.26 5.00 500 125.00 323
N2 28.02 1.408 3.913 92.07 5.00 500 17.84 323

The calculator below can be used to calculate the van der Waals volume, V V. The cells containing a comment
indicator can be changed to the desired quantities. To solve for VV, either Goal Seek or Solver could be
used. Goal Seek is easier to use and is found under the Tools menu.

The van der Waals equation expressing V as a function of P is

V3 - (b + R•T/P)V2 + a/P•V - a•b/P = 0

Gas MM a b PV VV m n T
(g/mol) (atm•L2•mol-2) (10 •L•mol-1)
-2
(atm) (L) (g) (mol) (K)
Ar 39.95 1.363 3.219 20.00 15.34 500 12.52 298
CO2 44.01 3.640 4.267 20.00 13.93 500 11.36 298
He 4.00 0.057 2.370 20.00 152.93 500 125.00 298
N2 28.02 1.408 3.913 20.00 21.86 500 17.84 298
aining a comment

ning a comment
 The Ideal and van der Waals Gas Laws

An ideal gas is a hypothetical gas whose pressure, volume, and temperature values is completely described by the id
The equation of state for an ideal gas is given by:

PV = nRT

where R is the universal gas constant. R can take on different numerical values depending on the units. A very comm

0.0821 L•atm/mol/K

This value for R dictates that the pressure, P, be measured in atmospheres (atm), the volume, V, be measured in liters
of moles of gas, and T is always expressed as the absolute temperature, K.

There are two differences between an ideal gas and a real (van der Waals) gas. The first difference is that the molecu
gas have a certain volume of their own which decreases the accessible volume. The correction is to subtract this vol
molar volume of the gas as shown below.

nRT/(Vm - nb)

The second correction is that intermolecular forces of attraction exist between neighboring gas molecules. Because
assume intermolecular forces should reduce the pressure, the correction factor is subtracted from the pressure as sh

-na2/Vm2

Combining the two expressions above gives the resulting van der Waals equation

Pv = nRT/(Vm-nb) - na2/Vm2

Each gas has its unique values of a and b which have been empirically derived.

Another difference to note is that ideal gas isotherms are hyperbolic because P and V are inversely proportional. Van
can be found in nonphysical regions of pressure when the computed pressures are negative. The fact that computed
negative indicates that van der Waals gases exhibit critical behavior. In these negative regions, the gas condenses to
critical behavior is more pronounced for regions of high pressure and low molar volume. Because an ideal gas is def
intermolecular attractions, it cannot condense to a liquid nor exhibit any critical behavior.
etely described by the ideal gas equation.

n the units. A very common value for R is

V, be measured in liters (L), n is the number

rence is that the molecules making up a real

on is to subtract this volume, called b, from the

as molecules. Because it is reasonable to

from the pressure as shown below.

ersely proportional. Van der Waals isotherms

The fact that computed pressures can be
ns, the gas condenses to form a liquid. The
cause an ideal gas is defined to have no
 Ideal Gas and van der Waals Isotherms for CO 2

As seen below, at high temperatures when a gas is expected to behave ideally, the agreement between ideal and van
is very good. Most real gases behave ideally at high temperatures and low pressures. The high temperatures offset t
attractions and the low pressures nullify the effects of the gas molecules having a volume of their own. For lower tem
pressures, there are significant deviations between an ideal gas and a real gas.

V Pi Pi Pi
(L) (atm) (atm) (atm) Ideal Pressure vs Volume
0.02 493 1026 2053
100
0.04 246 513 1026
0.06 164 342 684 80
0.08 123 257 513

Pressure (atm)
0.10 99 205 411 60
0.12 82 171 342
0.14 70 147 293 40
0.16 62 128 257
0.18 55 114 228 20
0.20 49 103 205
0
0.22 45 93 187
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1
0.24 41 86 171
0.26 38 79 158 Volume (L)
0.28 35 73 147
0.30 33 68 137
0.32 31 64 128 VDW Pressure vs Volume
0.34 29 60 121
0.36 27 57 114 100
0.38 26 54 108
0.40 25 51 103 80
VDW Pressure (atm)

0.42 23 49 98
0.44 22 47 93 60
0.46 21 45 89
0.48 21 43 86 40
0.50 20 41 82
0.52 19 39 79 20
0.54 18 38 76
0.56 18 37 73 0
0.58 17 35 71 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.
0.60 16 34 68
Volume (L)
0.62 16 33 66
0.64 15 32 64
0.66 15 31 62
0.68 14 30 60
0.70 14 29 59
0.72 14 29 57
0.74 13 28 55
0.76 13 27 54
0.78 13 26 53
0.80 12 26 51
0.82 12 25 50
0.84 12 24 49
0.86 11 24 48
0.88 11 23 47
0.90 11 23 46
0.92 11 22 45
0.94 10 22 44
0.96 10 21 43
0.98 10 21 42
1.00 10 21 41
therms for CO 2

between ideal and van der Waals gases

gh temperatures offset the intermolecular
heir own. For lower temperatures and higher

Pv Pv Pv
Volume (atm) (atm) (atm)
-9415 -9885 -10791
-5935 -9932 -17620
- 429 187 1371
- 297 - 11 538
- 187 - 1 357
120 K
- 122 16 281
250 K - 82 28 238
500 K - 56 35 210
- 39 39 188
- 27 41 171
- 19 42 157
60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
- 12 42 146
- 8 41 136
- 4 41 127
- 2 40 120
Volume 0 39 113
2 38 107
3 37 102
4 36 97
5 35 92
6 34 88
120 K 6 33 85
250 K 7 32 81
500 K 7 31 78
7 31 75
7 30 73
7 29 70
8 28 68
0 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00 8 28 66
8 27 64
8 26 62
8 26 60
8 25 58
8 24 57
8 24 55
8 23 54
8 23 52
8 22 51
7 22 50
7 21 49
7 21 47
7 21 46
7 20 45
7 20 44
7 20 43
7 19 43
7 19 42
7 18 41
7 18 40
7 18 39
 Compressiblity Factor of CO2 at 1000K

The ideal gas law is valid for all gases at sufficiently low pressures. As the pressure is increased, the deviations from
law can be displayed graphically by plotting PV/RT as a function of pressure as shown below. The quantity PV/RT is
the compressibility factor, Z. For an ideal gas, Z = 1 under all conditions. For real gases, Z = 1 at low pressure but de
start to appear as the pressure is increased. The magnitude of the deviation depends on the temperature and nature
The closer the gas is to the point at which it liquifies, the greater the deviation.

It makes sense that the ideal and van der Waals isotherms agree at high temperatures. At higher temperatures, the m
are moving much more rapidly which weakens the intermolecular forces.

V Pv Zv Pi Zi
(L) (atm) (atm) Z vs P
0.02 - 12602 - 3.1 4105 1.0
0.04 - 32994 -16.1 2053 1.0 2.0
0.06 3740 2.7 1368 1.0
0.08 1638 1.6 1026 1.0 1.5
0.10 1073 1.3 821 1.0

Z = PV/nRT
0.12 812 1.2 684 1.0
1.0
0.14 660 1.1 586 1.0
0.16 559 1.1 513 1.0
0.18 487 1.1 456 1.0 0.5
0.20 432 1.1 411 1.0
0.22 389 1.0 373 1.0 0.0
0.24 354 1.0 342 1.0 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 100
0.26 325 1.0 316 1.0
P (atm)
0.28 300 1.0 293 1.0
0.30 279 1.0 274 1.0
0.32 261 1.0 257 1.0
0.34 245 1.0 241 1.0
0.36 231 1.0 228 1.0
0.38 219 1.0 216 1.0
0.40 207 1.0 205 1.0
0.42 197 1.0 195 1.0
0.44 188 1.0 187 1.0
0.46 180 1.0 178 1.0
0.48 172 1.0 171 1.0
0.50 165 1.0 164 1.0
0.52 159 1.0 158 1.0
0.54 153 1.0 152 1.0
0.56 147 1.0 147 1.0
0.58 142 1.0 142 1.0
0.60 137 1.0 137 1.0
0.62 133 1.0 132 1.0
0.64 129 1.0 128 1.0
0.66 125 1.0 124 1.0
0.68 121 1.0 121 1.0
0.70 118 1.0 117 1.0
0.72 114 1.0 114 1.0
0.74 111 1.0 111 1.0
0.76 108 1.0 108 1.0
0.78 105 1.0 105 1.0
0.80 103 1.0 103 1.0
0.82 100 1.0 100 1.0
0.84 98 1.0 98 1.0
0.86 96 1.0 95 1.0
0.88 93 1.0 93 1.0
0.90 91 1.0 91 1.0
0.92 89 1.0 89 1.0
0.94 87 1.0 87 1.0
0.96 86 1.0 86 1.0
0.98 84 1.0 84 1.0
1.00 82 1.0 82 1.0
 sed, the deviations from the ideal
The quantity PV/RT is known as
1 at low pressure but deviations
temperature and nature of the gas.

her temperatures, the molecules

sP

Vdw
Ideal

94 96 98 100
 Compressiblity Factor of CO2 at 500K

For 500 K, the Z for both the ideal and van der Waals gas agree very closely. However, it can be seen that with
increasing pressure, the deviation starts to get larger.

V Pv Zv Pi Zi
(L) (atm) (atm) Z vs P
0.02 - 10791 - 5.3 2053 1.0
0.04 - 17620 -17.2 1026 1.0 2.0
0.06 1371 2.0 684 1.0
0.08 538 1.0 513 1.0 1.5
0.10 357 0.9 411 1.0

Z = PV/nRT
0.12 281 0.8 342 1.0
1.0
0.14 238 0.0 293 1.0
0.16 210 0.0 257 1.0
0.18 188 0.1 228 1.0 0.5
0.20 171 0.8 205 1.0
0.22 157 0.8 187 1.0 0.0
0.24 146 0.9 171 1.0 84 88 92 96 100
0.26 136 0.9 158 1.0
P (atm)
0.28 127 0.9 147 1.0
0.30 120 0.9 137 1.0
0.32 113 0.9 128 1.0
0.34 107 0.9 121 1.0
0.36 102 0.9 114 1.0
0.38 97 0.9 108 1.0
0.40 92 0.9 103 1.0
0.42 88 0.9 98 1.0
0.44 85 0.9 93 1.0
0.46 81 0.9 89 1.0
0.48 78 0.9 86 1.0
0.50 75 0.9 82 1.0
0.52 73 0.9 79 1.0
0.54 70 0.9 76 1.0
0.56 68 0.9 73 1.0
0.58 66 0.9 71 1.0
0.60 64 0.9 68 1.0
0.62 62 0.9 66 1.0
0.64 60 0.9 64 1.0
0.66 58 0.9 62 1.0
0.68 57 0.9 60 1.0
0.70 55 0.9 59 1.0
0.72 54 0.9 57 1.0
0.74 52 0.9 55 1.0
0.76 51 0.9 54 1.0
0.78 50 0.9 53 1.0
0.80 49 0.9 51 1.0
0.82 47 0.9 50 1.0
0.84 46 0.9 49 1.0
0.86 45 1.0 48 1.0
0.88 44 1.0 47 1.0
0.90 43 1.0 46 1.0
0.92 43 1.0 45 1.0
0.94 42 1.0 44 1.0
0.96 41 1.0 43 1.0
0.98 40 1.0 42 1.0
1.00 39 1.0 41 1.0
be seen that with

sP

Vdw
Ideal

96 100
 Compressiblity Factor of CO2 at 250K

For 250 K and 125 K there is virtually no agreement between the two types of gas.

V Pv Zv Pi Zi
(L) (atm) (atm) Z vs P
0.02 - 9885 - 9.6 1026 1.0
0.04 - 9932 -19.4 513 1.0 2.0
0.06 187 0.5 342 1.0
0.08 - 11 0.0 257 1.0 1.5
0.10 - 1 0.0 205 1.0

Z = PV/nRT
0.12 16 0.1 171 1.0
1.0
0.14 28 0.2 147 1.0
0.16 35 0.3 128 1.0
0.18 39 0.3 114 1.0 0.5
0.20 41 0.4 103 1.0
0.22 42 0.4 93 1.0 0.0
0.24 42 0.5 86 1.0 0 20 40 60 80 100
0.26 41 0.5 79 1.0
P (atm)
0.28 41 0.6 73 1.0
0.30 40 0.6 68 1.0
0.32 39 0.6 64 1.0
0.34 38 0.6 60 1.0
0.36 37 0.6 57 1.0
0.38 36 0.7 54 1.0
0.40 35 0.7 51 1.0
0.42 34 0.7 49 1.0
0.44 33 0.7 47 1.0
0.46 32 0.7 45 1.0
0.48 31 0.7 43 1.0
0.50 31 0.7 41 1.0
0.52 30 0.8 39 1.0
0.54 29 0.8 38 1.0
0.56 28 0.8 37 1.0
0.58 28 0.8 35 1.0
0.60 27 0.8 34 1.0
0.62 26 0.8 33 1.0
0.64 26 0.8 32 1.0
0.66 25 0.8 31 1.0
0.68 24 0.8 30 1.0
0.70 24 0.8 29 1.0
0.72 23 0.8 29 1.0
0.74 23 0.8 28 1.0
0.76 22 0.8 27 1.0
0.78 22 0.8 26 1.0
0.80 21 0.8 26 1.0
0.82 21 0.8 25 1.0
0.84 21 0.8 24 1.0
0.86 20 0.8 24 1.0
0.88 20 0.9 23 1.0
0.90 20 0.9 23 1.0
0.92 19 0.9 22 1.0
0.94 19 0.9 22 1.0
0.96 18 0.9 21 1.0
0.98 18 0.9 21 1.0
1.00 18 0.9 21 1.0
sP

Vdw
Ideal

60 80 100
 Compressiblity Factor of CO2 at 125K

For 125 K and 250 K there is virtually no agreement between the two types of gas.

V Pv Zv Pi Zi
(L) (atm) (atm) Z vs P
0.02 - 9433 -18.4 513 1.0
0.04 - 6089 -23.7 257 1.0 2.0
0.06 - 406 - 2.4 171 1.0
0.08 - 286 - 2.2 128 1.0 1.5
0.10 - 180 - 1.8 103 1.0

Z = PV/nRT
0.12 - 117 - 1.4 86 1.0
1.0
0.14 - 78 - 1.1 73 1.0
0.16 - 53 - 0.8 64 1.0
0.18 - 36 - 0.6 57 1.0 0.5
0.20 - 25 - 0.5 51 1.0
0.22 - 16 - 0.4 47 1.0 0.0
0.24 - 10 - 0.2 43 1.0 0 10 20
0.26 - 6 - 0.1 39 1.0
P (atm)
0.28 - 3 - 0.1 37 1.0
0.30 0 0.0 34 1.0
0.32 2 0.1 32 1.0
0.34 3 0.1 30 1.0
0.36 5 0.2 29 1.0
0.38 6 0.2 27 1.0
0.40 6 0.2 26 1.0
0.42 7 0.3 24 1.0
0.44 7 0.3 23 1.0
0.46 8 0.3 22 1.0
0.48 8 0.4 21 1.0
0.50 8 0.4 21 1.0
0.52 8 0.4 20 1.0
0.54 8 0.4 19 1.0
0.56 8 0.5 18 1.0
0.58 8 0.5 18 1.0
0.60 8 0.5 17 1.0
0.62 8 0.5 17 1.0
0.64 8 0.5 16 1.0
0.66 8 0.5 16 1.0
0.68 8 0.6 15 1.0
0.70 8 0.6 15 1.0
0.72 8 0.6 14 1.0
0.74 8 0.6 14 1.0
0.76 8 0.6 14 1.0
0.78 8 0.6 13 1.0
0.80 8 0.6 13 1.0
0.82 8 0.6 13 1.0
0.84 8 0.6 12 1.0
0.86 8 0.6 12 1.0
0.88 8 0.7 12 1.0
0.90 8 0.7 11 1.0
0.92 7 0.7 11 1.0
0.94 7 0.7 11 1.0
0.96 7 0.7 11 1.0
0.98 7 0.7 10 1.0
1.00 7 0.7 10 1.0
sP

Vdw
Ideal

20