Tutorial on Properties of Gases

1. Explain the difference between ideal and non-ideal gases?

An ideal gas is one which is not influenced by the presence of other gas molecules. It
follows the ideal gas equation derived by the combination of the Boyle’s law and Gay-
Lussac’s Law  PV = nRT. No gases are ideal but under certain conditions, real gases are
approximated to behave similar to the ideal gas. On the other hand, non-ideal

2. Experimentally, it is known that gas laws are not applicable to real gases under all
conditions of temperature and pressure. Under what conditions are these laws obeyed by
real gases?

Real gases attain ideal behavior only at very low pressures and very high temperatures. Real gas deviates
from the real gas behavior close to the conditions at which the gas can be condensed into a liquid.

3. The equation PV = nRT is strictly applicable to an ideal gas. How would you determine
experimentally the volume occupied by such a gas at S.T.P.?
Fill the vessel with the gas and set the pressure to 1atm and temperature of 273K. The amount of gas filled
in the vessel will be known, hence the moles of gas can be calculated. All the variables will be known except
volume which then can be calculated.

4. What is the vapour pressure of a liquid? How does it arise and what is the effect of
temperature on it?

Vapour pressure of water

Are the molecules of the liquid surrounding the upper level of the liquid in the gas phase.
As the temperature is raised, the vapour pressure becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure and boiling
starts.

5. Draw a graph indicating

i. The variation of vapour pressure with temperature. What are the lower and upper
limits of this graph?
ii. The variation of ln(P) versus 1/T. What is its slope?
Critical temperature, Tc is the maximum temperature at which a gas can be liquefied. i.e the
temperature above which a liquid cannot exist.
Triple point, The three states of the substance will exist simultaneously.
Boiling point is defined as the vapour pressure of the liquid being is equal to the atmospheric
pressure.

the slope will be equal to H/R and the activation energy can bedetermined.